£3m development plans at Wantage alarm town centre traders (From Herald Series)

£3m development plans at Wantage alarm town centre traders

3:37pm Tuesday 23rd June 2009

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TRADERS in Wantage have raised concerns that plans for a £3m new development of restaurants and homes could lead to a further decline in the town centre.

Plans for a multi-million pound scheme, which would include two restaurants with 14 two-bedroom apartments overlooking the town’s Letcombe Brook beauty spot, have been lodged with planners.

It would also include a 14-space underground car park for residents.

But this week traders were unsure about the scheme, which would be built opposite New Look and Focus DIY in the Limborough Park development.

Karen Rankine, manager of The Bear Hotel in Market Place, said: “This would take more people out of the Market Place to the new development and I think people are trying to get more people into the centre of the town rather than away from it.

“There are so many empty premises — why can’t what was the Arbery pub be turned into a restaurant, rather than building new ones?

“I don’t have a problem with the restaurants (but) I am not sure if the town needs more housing at the moment.”

Linda Hatter, of Top Hatters Boutique, in Mill Street, said: “I would like to see more things happening in the Market Place rather than away from the centre of the town.”

However, Jim Hethering-ton, chairman of the town’s chamber of commerce, said: “The more the development grows, then what we are getting is an out-of-town development in town, which should encourage more people in.”

Bill Atkinson, managing director of development firm Wantage Investments, said the development would make the town more attractive.

Mr Atkinson said the proposed development would involve demolishing two old single-storey workshop buildings — one of which is empty and the other used as office space.

He said: “Wantage needs more restaurants and properties. Having this development would pull people in from the different catchment areas.

“The more people we can attract to the historic market town, the more alive the town will be. This would be a good thing for traders, who would feel the financial benefits from additional visitors.”

Donna Chandler, of Peter Casey Jewellers in Market Place, agreed.

She said: “I think it’s certainly something that Wantage is lacking. It needs decent places to eat.

“There are some decent places, but more choice is always good.

“I think it would be good if people came for the day, had some lunch out and then looked around the shops.”

Mr Atkinson said parking for restaurant users would be in Limborough Park, which includes Sainsbury’s, WHSmith and Argos.

The site has 700 spaces and parking is free for two hours.

The two restaurants would seat 100 people.

If the Vale of White Horse District Council planners approve the development, work could start at the end of this year — with the site open by the end of 2010.

Mr Atkinson said the protection and preservation of Letcombe Brook had been a key consideration throughout the design of the development.

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