KEEP WIMBORNE TOWN GREEN Feedback
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 377: I regularly pass through Wimborne and regard it as one of the most attractive towns in the area. The sight of The Green is uplifting in this age of over development and is Wimborn's LUNG. There is far too much emphasis on "development" and a total lack of understanding on the part of multi-nationals about how small communities work and interact. A point has been made that profits made by a supermarket are removed to head office - how true, (consider also that most of the country's utilities are now foreign owned and their profits leave the country!) It would be tragic to loose the green and would be a dis-service to all who love Wimborne not to mention something that the Local Authority should have on their concience for many years to come.
John

376: I was present throughout the Planning Committee meeting.I was against the proposal at the beginning, and even more against it at the end, but unsurprised at the outcome. (My cynical side suggests renaming 'The Cricketers Arms' as 'The Foregone Conclusion'). It appeared to me that the result was achieved by the classic mix of stick and carrot. I fully understand that local traders are very concerned about their livelihoods, particularly in the current very worrying economic climate, and even though I have no significant commercial employment background myself, if I truly believed that sacrificing this local amenity is the only means of protecting them and preserving their long term contribution to the life of the town then I would reluctantly accept that that must come first. However the statements that without 'anchor stores' (an undefined term, perhaps because it fits Somerfield)
towns "die", were backed only by a brief reference to a study by Bmth Uni. On the other hand KWTG has presented weightier evidence that this is not the case - just the reverse - and at the risk of appearing unsympathetically flippant I was left with the phrase 'turkeys voting for Christmas' in my mind. The carrot was represented by the prospect of 200 jobs at the store, in addition to a temporary boost to the (presumably local) building trade. Also the 40% of the land open to the public, and other inducements such as a mention of financial contributions to local causes. None of it to be dismissed lightly, particularly the in-store jobs, but I would have liked to have seen some evidence presented to demonstrate that this represents a necessary net gain in local employment capacity. i.e. Not stripping other local employers of their existing staff and making it difficult for them to compete. Also,of course, there is the thought that despite the assurance of the MD, Waitrose is as exposed to market conditions as any other large organisation (see above), and I fail to see how there can be any guarantee that Waitrose will always remain Waitrose. In the long term, will we find that we've swapped one (allegedly) unsatisfactory supermarket (a defunct Somerfields) for another non-Waitrose one on the cricket pitch? (Mr Hirsh - who I thought was excellent throughout - reminded Members quite correctly that they would be making a decision on a supermarket, not on a Waitrose). When this plan was first mooted I wrote to the local paper complaining that from my experience of living in Wimborne for more than 30 years the alleged safeguards to the quality of our life always crumble when enough commercial clout is thrown at them. I cited the construction of the multi-storey car park at the Market despite  the Local Plan stating that Market activities should not be intensified, and the construction of the Barretts estate on the water meadows despite the sequential test, a condition of acceptance, not being carried out. I went on to say that the situation always seemed to become one in which the argument was about why the development should not go ahead rather than why it should. My letter was answered by someone who - judging from the letters after his name - is clearly very well qualified in this field. He stated that although he agreed in principle to what I said I was under the misapprehension that Planning legislation exists to prevent development whereas it exists to control it. I fully accept his authority on the matter, but am left wondering what point there is in having Local Plans, Sequential Tests, and Conservation Areas when the intangible yet priceless values which they attempt to protect will always be outweighed in the final analysis by commercial gain.
Had I had an opportunity to speak after the vote had been taken I would have made the suggestion (quite seriously)that we all meet again in five years and take stock of whether the gains from this decision have outweighed the losses. 
John

375: hope you do not give up the fight we could still win
Barbara

374:Yes we are all disappointed by the result!!   I did email this before but it was quite near the date of the meeting so you were probably busy. Has anyone asked the council why we could not have an open public space - i would like to see a Botanic Garden come park ( I know we have Redcotts but it is more of a play area)  it could picnic benches, maybe a pond, memorial garden. Ampitheatre/Bandstand.   BBC Breathing spaces has good ideas for community groups to lay out and maintain such spaces, it would be a lovely area for Wimborne and compliment it.  
Jane

373: Dear Mr Atlay
I was sporting a green badge and I want to say a big THANK YOU to you  and the KWTG Committee for your hard work and dedication so far.  I
have been keeping up with developments and had realised that it was all  getting quite controversial, but I was fairly astonished by the deep
division in the town and the delight that a sizeable number of locals  take in shopping!  I've demonstrated for and against a handful of
issues in my time, but I'm proud to say that I have never demonstrated  on behalf of rampart consumerism.  How daft it all is!  In ten years
time the same people will be moaning about the traffic congestion, the  pollution, the loss of local traders, the influx of national chains,
the loss of the special character of Wimborne. Its appalling that you were not given the same amount of time as  everyone else.  This could almost be grounds for a Judicial Review of
the council's decision!
I shall certainly be emailing David Brown.
If you need any volunteers to assist with KWTG, please let me know.
Incidentally, are you involved in the Green Belt issue?
Joanna

The Decision of the EDDC Planning Committee on 29 September

372: I regret I shall be unable to attend the meeting on Monday (29th September). I have, however, made it abundantly clear to the planning officer that I am totally opposed to this plan. Waitrose must not be permitted to 'bulldoze' this plan through. Another supermarket will not improve shopping in Wimborne, indeed, it will take yet more trade away from local tradesmen/women. The answer lies, surely, in enhancing the Town centre facilities that already exist, not give them more (multi-national) competition. Equally, we do not know whether or not Somerfield will close with the introduction of a more powerful competitor, which will leave us with not only less choice, as if we need it, but no cricket ground either. Send them packing
Derry

371: Wouldn't a small Botanic Garden be a nice asset for Wimborne?  WE do have redcotts but it is more of a playing area. A pretty green space would enhance our town and would be a open air venue for picnics and sitting. The minster green acts as such a venue at the moment.  Sidmouth a small town in Devon has one which is beautiful and a big attraction.  BBC Breathing Spaces has good ideas for achieving such projects by volunteers and groups.
Jane

370: Please. I've lived in Wimborne all my life. Don't spoil any more with a supermarket being built on the cricket pitch. Wimborne is still one of the nicest towns in Dorset, although I've seen a fair few changes over the past 20 years or so, it will be a really sad day if the Cricket pitch is built upon. Why not turn it into a lovelly play area for children, and people to relax?
Sam

369: I am a frequent (3 times a week) visitor to Wimborne. Over the years I have come to love the town for its charm and community spirit. I know all the shops and the weekend market. I even know all the pubs. It was in one of these that I recently picked up a "Keep Wimborne Town Green" leaflet.
Two things immediately spring to mind:
There is a people's lobby to oppose the building of a supermarket on the town's green, and there is no people's lobby urging the building of a supermarket on this site.
At this point, the matter should be closed.  But I fear it is not.
On the one hand, we have decisions made by politicians and outsider millionaires who do not love the town yet wield power over it. On the other hand we have the people who have chosen to live in Wimborne yet have to live with the decisions made by those who have not sprung from their ranks. 
This is not democratic. This is totalitarianism.  It is Big Business cutting a swathe through the hearts of the ordinary folk who know what they like and what they love. Was any of this on the agenda at the last local elections?
These outsiders are not interested in the town. They see a business opportunity, and merely wish to augment their already inflated coffers whilst unscrupulously tearing out the heart of what has been suggested as a place listed in the top ten most desirable places to live in the country.
The heart of a community is a thing that joins the people to form a community. In Wimborne, this is the town's green. This green has played witness to all those activities which unite all: rich and poor, young and old, single people and families. It is the hub of those things which draw others to visit the town. Namely the festival, the cricket, the children's sporting events. And it is in the centre of the town.
I am no cricket fan, but the sound of leather on willow is a sound synonymous with England. It is a tradition to see men in white contrasting with the deep green of grass on an English summer day. Where can you see this in the heart of any town today? It is a tradition that tells you "everything's all right". There is a normal game being played by ordinary men as Wimborne's eleven play host another town under the very eyes of their own people.
Where else can you put up a marquee in the centre of the town at festival-time? Where else can you let your children run until they drop exhausted and where you can still see them a hundred and fifty yards away protected by the boundary fencing?
The practised and expert PR professionals will be mobilised to present many arguments in favour of a supermarket. The politicians and millionaires will tell us that it will provide employment, the town needs it, it will bring in revenue. They will think of other things besides. They will not convince the people.
The employment will not make a dent in any existing unemployment figures. It will be at the cost of Somerfield employees and thriving private businesses and small shops like the butchers, hardware stores, off-licences, bakeries and others.
The modern scourge of commercialism, empowered by politicians wants to stretch out its claw - encrusted with profit and drenched in the tears of the people - and reach into the heart of the town and tear out its character. Like a bloated giant, it will grin at the profits it makes with no thought of the soullessness that will replace the core of the community. Those profits, which will be taken out of the town and transferred to a Head Office.
Pantechnicons, which would normally take the bypass will enter the town and negotiate its small streets in the small hours, using the widened roads and supermarket entrances to feed the unwanted monster sitting at the end of a great area of black asphalt.
Somebody is stealing a way of life, stealing the landscape, and if the supermarket fails, would it be pulled down and laid to turf again?  
In spite of all I say, the approved plans are already on display. It is a "done deal" made by the absentees for the outsiders, and brokered by the "democratically-minded", which the majority oppose. Why am I not surprised?
My questions are: Did the land come on to the Open Market? Did the council, or any body representing the council grant planning permission before it came on to the market, thus bumping up it's sale value? Were planning notices sent to all properties facing the green prior to planning permission being granted? Were established procedures and protocols observed regarding the planning application? Were the people of the Wimborne given the opportunity to buy the green? - Or to object to the "development"? Is there a possibility of appeal to the Home Office? Maybe there are answers to all of these - I just don't know them.
I draw a possibly controversial conclusion from the affair. The vendors of the land are entitled to sell it. It is their land.
The supermarket is entitled to buy it, for it is land, which has come on to the market. But none of this controversy could be possible without the council's permission.
I call upon the good people of Wimborne to support the local enterprises and small businesses which have served the town by building fine reputations over the years. Don't let powerful national stores drive them away with their "loss-leaders" and undercuts otherwise, variety, choice and personal service will evaporate. "Lost Causes" are the ones worth fighting for.
Mark

368: Looking on the KWTG website, I fail to see a clear statement of a viable alternative to the proposed Waitrose development. This would seem to be essential for all those wishing the proposal to be defeated and those using the website seeing that the area is facing an important meeting very soon. All I see is objection in various forms, what practical solution does KWTG propose to be a real force and influence to fight the proposal?
David

367: I am sure that the majority of people who object to the proposal to build on the Cricket ground, would also oppose the plans that are afoot to build on Green Belt land around the town. Might I therefore ask if you are aware of the petition set-up on the Number 10 website by Stephen Churchill, which calls upon the Prime Minister to honour his pledge made in July 2006 to robustly protect the land designated as Green Belt. Whilst I can appreciate that you may wish to retain a distinction between the Cricket Ground and a more general objection to inappropriate land development, I am mindful that you have access by e-mail to many like minded individuals, who perhaps, are unaware of the petition and who would like to lend there support to this cause. Would it be possible to consider a 'mail shot' asking the 'Cricket Ground Supporters' to consider adding their names to the petition, which can be found on the following link: 
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/WimborneMinster/
Garry

366: Thanks for your continuing hard work. Please keep me updated and note my new email address.  Many thanks.
Lizzie

365: Do you know that Morrisons has been sold and it is now going to be CO-OP GOOD NEWS! More like it.
Deans Court is now selling Organic Veg, bringing communities together thru local food, EXCELLENT!
Andrea 

364: Dear Phil,
Firstly, thankyou for your continued persistant efforts, I for one appreciate you giving your time so freely for this cause.
secondly, i'd love to take the opportunity to raise questions if the public meeting ever goes ahead, and will (i'm sure) liase with you nearer the time.
thirdly, I shall be dedicating some thinking time to a method of polling wimborne folk about their shopping habits, and will get back to you soon (I hope)
in the mean time, enjoy the sunshine, and keep up the good work.
Rod

363: Why not have a cheaper supermarket, like Morrisons,Waitrose is far to expensive for Wimborne,more people would be happy, I rest my case
Michael

362: Some number crunching shows interesting results.In Wimborne and Colehill the most recent census (2001) shows 6110 households in total.Allowing for seven years of building this figure is probably 7000 households by 2008. Waitrose plans to build a car park with a maximum capacity of 15000 a week, assuming a one hour stay.The capacity is calculated by multiplying opening hours per week(75) by spaces (200). Even if half the households in the town used the Waitrose store and car park for an hour each week there would still be a spare carpark capacity of over 11000  per week which Waitrose would work hard to fill from outside the town.This would have a major effect on traffic into Wimborne.
Phil

361: Having just found out that the person who was running the Bar on the Cricket Ground has paid over £38,000 for the site for the weekend, I want to know where this money has gone and I find it galling that all the do-gooders that want to keep it green have no objections to it being used as a Car Park and a Pub.Mind you at least we were allowed to step foot on the precious green.
Mandie

360: I have just caught up with an article in the Bournemouth Echo of April 10th 2008. Have I missed something here as it reports that work has already started on the new cricket field at the Leaze? Although it quotes Waitrose, it does not state that they are already funding this.Does this mean that the Waitrose development is a 'done deal', because there is no way Waitrose would entertain funding for a cricket complex in Wimborne with nothing in return.Have they been given the 'nod' that permission WILL be given for their supermarket in due course?
David

359: Well, i've never seen the Environment Agency do anything this outspoken before! goes to show what a complete lack of planning Waitrose had achieved.
Rod

358: At least those little water voles, otters and crayfish are keeping them on their toes! I'm hoping to get some video of the water voles next to Somerfield, if I do I will let you have a copy.
 Jane

357: Why has everything gone so quiet?
Julie

356: Can KWTG be a cause for respect in the way it keeps its profile and present not only real issues (as opposed to disapproval of local government methods) but a real, practical and workable alternative that will appeal to Councils and public alike? I AM in favour of the campaign but to be acceptable it needs a very real acceptable face and policy.
David

355: Is it expecting too much for the Planning Committee members to remember just a few hours between seeing the site and an evening meeting?
Phil

354: I object to anything being built on Wimborne Town's cricket green.
It would be like turning the Tivoli Theatre into a Bingo Hall.
Totally inappropriate.
Mike

353: I understand that Waitrose is making approaches to the current Wimborne supermarket. If they buy this, then where does that leave the new development?
I guess a compromise might be to build a car park on the old site (demolishing what is now Somerfield) and having the new supermarket on a smaller share of the cricket pitch and keeping the rest as green space. As well as providing more park land, it also wipes out any chances of competition in Wimborne, so win-win. That at least would encourage people to leave the supermarket area to shop elsewhere, something the current plans would not do.
Jackie

352: I like the comment in the Stour valley Mag that Waitrose might take ober the Somerfield stores. Could be Wimborne's solutiuon couldn't it? - take over the existing supermarket, enlarge it and plant some nice trees etc on the cricket pitch...
David

351: Does the comunnity realise how much more Waitrose products cost,than other super markets
Mike

350: One reads that Summerfields is up for sale. So why can't Waitrose make an offer to buy the existing Wimborne Somerfields and the other shops around the closed down Boots and develop them into a Wimborne Waitrose?
David

349: I think one important point to bear in mind is that nobody currently uses the cricket ground on a regular basis; the cricket club has relocated, and the only time it is used is on the weekend of the Folk Festival. It is a huge open space going to waste. We need to do something with it! I am all for making it into a park, picnic area, or similar, but I believe it will not be used. I think Waitrose is the best option, and I firmly believe that battles will continue over this piece of land until finally some large company wins. I think we should accept Waitrose, because if this opposition continues, they will give up and we will be left with a company building flats or houses. This land will never, ever be put to use which will benefit the community unless it becomes a supermarket.
Kate

348: Are you aware that the Somerfield group(all 990 stores) is up for sale and one of the interested buyers is Waitrose ( see Times business section 22/01/2008).
This will no doubt affect Wimborne, Waitrose will surely go ahead with the cricket pitch plan and close Somerfield.
Phil

347: I am a member of Wimborne Cricket club and would like inquire as to why you are campaining to save the ground. Although this may sound strange I thought it was common knowledge that the club dont own the land Hanhams do, and it is inevitable that Hanhams will not continue to fund the ground as it stands therefore the 'Green' land you so desperately cling to will be gone anyway. Futhermore if the Waitrose is not built Wimborne Cricket club will have NO funding to move to a new ground. So even if it was managed to save the green space in the town the cricket club would be destroyed. I make this point because I feel it is greatly overlooked in the whole scheem of things and I would very much welcome a reply to this comment.
Thomas

346: Would love to see waitrose in town. they supply and support brittish and local farming,far more than our pressent so called super market. price? have you purchased at somerfields!
sellection? again poor.
if we had a better quality provider of superstore. the local residents,
those from further affield, and also tourists staying local to the area would have the impotus to stay around town and provide a much improved income to those that trade and work within wimborne.
ps. how's about this for an idea redvelopment of crown meads site 70's eye sore.
Carl

345: Perhaps Wimborne could support a quality foodstore but, it may be an idea to look at the alternatives. Yes, the infrastructure would have to be heavily upgraded, at  Waitrose expense? I believe alternative thinking may be required, instead of griping about this contencious possibility, why don't the moaners get off their high horses and think about a Wimborne consortium to purchase the land, preserve it and improve it for public use? Words without action are useless, Stop moaning and start doing! I've seen this situation so many times like at Sturminster Marshall and the great Gladwish land purchase, the villagers could have bought that land for a song as a consortium but, no, they just moaned and groaned whilst the land was stolen from them as they sat on their backsides in fruitless meeting after meeting. DO SOMETHING or STOP MOANING!
Len

344: have looked through the Local Development Plan that is so often cited by the KWTG chairman and feel that he is not telling the whole story....  True, the cricket pitch is designated as 'open space for recreation' but the planning policy dictates that  development may take place in such a place provided 'there would be no overall net loss of recreational benefit by its
development.'  Seeing as the cricket pitch has been relocated there is no net loss and the Hanhams Ground is available for development. 
Sam

343: Has anyone asked what guarantees there are that Waitrose will maintain the landscaping as shown in their proposal? I am concerned that, if the development goes ahead and at some time in the future Waitrose has to cut costs, then they may cut back on the upkeep of the landscaped area. Worse still, Waitrose could apply for permission to extend the car park over the landscaped area in order to bring in extra revenue.
Graham

P.S. I'm not sure where I sit at the moment. I'm glad there's further investigation into the traffic. I thought the Waitrose proposal was strangely worded on this. Section 8.7 of the non-technical is saying that the junctions are already operating at or near capacity so any extra vehicles would have little impact. In my words I would say the traffic is already almost at a standstill at peak times and the situation won't be improved by the new development!

342: One point that never comes up ,is the fact that Waitrose is one of more expensive super markets there is for food products,I rest my case.
Mike

341: I'd like to live in a town with  green spaces.  I am also very worried about the amount of extra traffic this unneeded development will cause.
Robin

340: I've just submitted my objection to this proposal via your site.  I work for Friends of the Earth supporting local campaigns all over the country like this one (and come from Wimborne).  The evidence is mounting to demonstrate the catastrophic effects that ill thought out applications like this one can have on small towns (I wonder if some of the people making supportive comments have looked at the evidence on the websites listed on the homepage - Tescopoly, The New Economics Foundation and indeed Friends of the Earth to name a few good ones). 
Jenny

339: It's a shame to destroy the English village feel that is exemplified by the cricket pitch that one sees as one comes in to Wimborne.
Andrew

338: I basically support the Waitrose application; this town needs a quality food store.
Ann

337: I find the planning process grossly unfair. 
If you or I put an application in for an extension to our house, there would never be any “oh, have a second chance” aspect to it. The application would be considered and determined on its initial basis.
So why should Waitrose (JLP) have any preferential treatment! 
John.   See "breaking news" on KWTG web site.

336: I lived, briefly, in the town in the 1940's and attended the Grammar School until 1959. So, although not a resident, I have a strong feeling for the town. I have watched with horror the de-personalisation of the town and, working at the Model Town, am constantly reminded of the diversity of businesses extant in the 50's. The original plan for a new supermarket, destroyed by the intrangiency of DCC's Social Services Deparment, would have at least provided a link to the town centre, relieved traffic on Rowlands Hill and protected the open space, whether cricket field or not. Since this plan has been superceded, with no link to the town, the supermarket will be only an "out-of-town" one-stop shopping centre within the town, with horrendous impact upon adjacent residents and traffic flow. I predict that the centre of town will be impossible to enter and harder to exit, reducing access to those brave retailers who persist in spite of increased rents. Fortunately, we have an excellent Co-Op in Corfe Mullen because I think shopping in Wimborne will be a big no-no. Incidentally, I agree with the correspondent who suggested that much benefit could be gained by opening up the present cricket ground for public use. That is one of the attractions of the Waitrose offer, does anyone actually believe it, when additional storage, retail area and car parking may be required?
Don


335: We do not want a Waitrose supermarket, keep Wimborne as it is, especially for the residents of Streets Meadow.  I and many residents I know will boycott the Waitrose store if it is built.
Jo


334: Both myself and my wife strongly believe that the land in the centre of Wimborne, known as Wimborne Cricket Ground, should NOT AT ANY TIME be passed for any kind of development whatsoever
Nick

333: This whole business about the cricket ground is very distrurbing and rather depressing.
I am totally against this development, I want my green space, but the realist in me knows that it is unlikely to survive.
I think that the basic fact is that humans have no choice other than to gradually destroy the environment they live in, simply in order to survive. At this stage in history we're just getting to the point where the earth's population has reached a level where its impact is significant enough for us to really start noticing. The earth is a large place, but it's filling up quickly and its resources are being used up at an increasing rate, much faster than they can be replenished by sunlight.
As long as societies are ruled by economics, which is a basic result of the division of labour that enables us to live such incredibly lavish lifestyles (in the western world), man will always need to be doing something that generates cash flow in order to be able to feed and shelter himself. And all of the activities that he can do will have some impact on the environment. The majority of activities require fuel of some kind, which involves burning fossil fuels and releasing the energy stored in them over millions of years. This fuel is running out. The Waitrose development is one example of people having to do stuff to survive, at the expense of our surroundings. People need to buy and sell, or die.
Transport is another result of man doing stuff. We manufacture, buy and drive our cars in increasing numbers, burning more fuel reserves but enabling ourselves to do even more stuff. The number of cars in the country is allowed to increase without limit, but we cannot provide enough roads and parking space for an infinite number of vehicles. Housing is a similar issue, we don't have an infinite amount of land. But who could and would ever answer the (reasonable) question 'what is the maximum number of people/cars our land will support'.
In the end capitalism will eat itself, as the phrase goes. The earth's resources will expire, our land will become flooded and unihabitable, our food supplies will dwindle and the human race will just have to fall back both in number and in lifestyle. We have reached our peak in the developed world, a return to medieval times is around the corner. This will sound ridiculous to most people, but that is because we have grown up in times when we have come to expect 'progress' to continue for ever and ever, so that one day we will all be living like the characters in Star Trek. This is fantasy. Infinite progress requires infinite resources. We don't have that.
Anyway, I hope the cricket ground does not get built on.
Peter


332: During the baby boom years, following the 2nd World War, there was insufficient housing in Wimborne for young families. Most of these families consisted of men and woman who had served in the forces during the war.  There was a desperate need for social housing.  The town planners decided that a new housing estate would be sited at the area now known as Leigh Park, a mile to the east of the town centre. No doubt all issues were considered by the council. The decision was taken to proceed. This resulted in the estate being erected adjacent to the council refuse tip and the sewerage works, a great reward for the service given.
For residents of Churchill Road, there was the consolation that a green space existed between their back gardens and the tip. In the 1950's, the council agreed to the Flight Refuelling factory being sited on this space. A massive series of buildings were erected which totally blocked out the view of the countryside, and it could no longer be used as a play area by the local children. The estate, and the factory buildings, were sufficiently far away from the 'back yards' of the wealthy and powerful not to cause any problems.  The residents of Leigh Park had no say in any of this.
It could be argued that times have changed and that today's planners will listen impartially to those who object to the development of the Cricket Club site, and may even find in their favour. I doubt it. Personally, I do not believe things have changed. Land owners still don't give a toss about those affected. The money they get for the land is what really matters to them and big business still has the power to squash 'little people'.
As for those who will make the final decision whether or not this green space will be destroyed for all time, unless they are affected directly, do they particularly care. It seems to me that the plans will go ahead unless we can provide good reasons why they should not. Surely it should be the other way around and that our green spaces must be preserved at all costs unless there are overwhelming reasons why they should not. From what I can see, the only ones who would really benefit from the development are the land owners, a handful of cricket players and Waitrose itself, oh, and of course, the dim people who would 'just love to have a Waitrose' to shop in.  I cannot understand why the simple fact of residents wishing to preserve a green space within the town holds so little weight in this debate.  
I am of the view that the council will be persuaded by Waitrose and that the objections by all others will be 'noted' and that will be that. The fact is we don't matter. Faceless bureaucrats will tell us what we need and bit by bit they will destroy the town.
Finally, do Waitrose have any interest in the appearance and effects of a post Waitrose Wimborne?   Why should they?  All they will want to see is the store making a healthy profit while they are here. At some time in the future, when it suits them, they will pull out of Wimborne leaving behind a commercial site. Who will be next ?  Toys are Us ? Homebase ? How about a nice Pizza Hut or Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Keith

331: This is sheer vandalism take away the pretty drawings and what have you got
1 a green space lost forever
2.hugely increased traffic in an already congested town and may I say not only in the town centre but roads leading in from all directions (eg.colehill where there are 3 schools. middle hill rd. will soon become a rat run.)
why are the planners so keen on this development? what has gone on in secret?
these large stores should not dominate small towns for the sake of short term profits,their motive is money, nothing more.
I for one do not trust these planners who will soon move on to another area to despoil yet another town with more concrete.Look at the dreadful existing crown mead shopping development how can any one trust these people to do any better next time around.
Douglas

330: This Application is totally out of character with a small market town such as Wimborne.  The Cricket Green is what makes the town unique and if such a development is deemed necessary why don't Waitrose demolish the current monstrosity that is Somerfields and surrounding units and rebuild a Waitrose there such as the one in Dorchester.  If Waitrose is allowed to erect a new build the current Somerfields will close and leave an unsightly and empty precinct which is already a blot on the landscape.  The building of Waitrose will completely ruin the town, increase noise, litter and traffic.  I just wish that the Planning Department showed a bit of guts and said no to this development but no doubt it will go ahead like everything else that we ratepayers don't want!!!!!!
Wendy

329: Please do not relocate the cricket ground. Please ask Waitrose to put their SuperMarket on the same place to which they would relocate the cricket ground.
Mike

328: Redevelop the drab unused units that you have already allowed to be built.
Can you honestly say either Crown Mead or Kings Court enhance the shopping experience of Wimborne.
Leave something that makes Wimborne 'unique'
Jill


327: I find your website very difficult to read [yellow on green, some white on green, random location for direct information - but I do support your cause.
Mike

326: Good afternoon.  What you and most of your crew seem to ignore is the fact that, that field WILL BE SOLD. You have no way of stopping it. If Waitrose do not buy it who will? The only way to keep the whole of that area green is for YOU to buy it.
You make all this noise yet the vessel is empty. You have put forward no alternative to the Waitrose buy. Thus my criticism is that you are completely misleading people into thinking that things can remain as they are.
Kenneth
Reply from KWTG chairman to the comment above:
Dear Kenneth of Feedback 326
May I respectfully point out that you make the same mistake as so many people in forgetting that Hanham's Ground - the Cricket Pitch, is part of the Wimborne Conservation Area and is also designated as an 'open space for recreation' in the Local Development Plan 2002.  Of course it may be sold but, currently, the owner is trying to sell it for a commercial development value which, given its status, it should not have.  The Town has tried to buy it twice but the owner has not agreed clearly because of a belief that Wimborne Minster could, one day, be persuaded to accept a large supermarket on the site.  I have discussed this with a Trustee of the 'Deans Court Estate' which administers the Ground. 
We cannot predict what will be the outcome if the Waitrose Application is refused, we judge that there are a number of possible scenarios.  What is exceedingly unlikely is that the site will be developed with houses or flats for the reasons which I explain in the piece which you can access from the Home page.  If you read the KWTG Aim which is also available via the Home page you will discover that it is not the case that we, necessarily, wish to keep things just as they are - although that would not displease many Wimborne residents, we recognise that change occurs.  If the Waitrose Application is refused, and we do so hope that it will be because there are compelling reasons why it should be - the impacts on traffic, local shops, environment, visual amenity and ambiance, we shall campaign to raise money for it to be bought by the Town so it can remain an open space for the benefit of residents and the Town's many visitors.
Philip Atlay
Chairman KWTG            


325: Re your comment, quote, "the Department has so far received 150 letters of  which the majority are in support. They come, it seems, from people who Waitrose signed up at its last exhibition and to whom the company has
written" - surely all the KTWG supporters must also have been to the exhibition? Wouldn't they also have registered their addresses? Otherwise I  don't see how can they reasonably object without having attended to view  information at first hand and to see how queries and concerns were dealt with.
Peter

324: I have lived in Wimborne for 32 years. In the past people have applied to use available town centre space for new development, which is understandable. However, because the town is going to expand in population, we need to increase rather than decrease the green space available for the central community. We also need to provide greater amount of car parking space for the increasing population of the town. Less traffic flow through the town is required in what is already often a fairly congested town centre.
A recent television programme talked about maintaining the central green spaces in the town centres as being "essential". I understand that purchasing the land at the cricket ground would put the community 'budget' under pressure. However, this is not the only mode of thinking.
Consider London. Beneath the River Thames, and under Hyde Park etc., there are huge expanses of underground railways as well as car parking, hidden away. If London had had the same attitude as Wimborne, it would not have so many green spaces. At the same time land in London is 'premium' value.
I have never seen the underpass in Hanham Road flooded in all the years I have lived in Wimborne. The depth of the underpass could easily be adequate for parking a car. I would like to challenge the source stating that the ground under the cricket ground is frequently flooded, or as an 'essential floodplain'. It is interesting to note that the latest application for development of the cricket ground has changed from the original and accepted that some of the land is not floodplain, and underground car parking is proposed. There are many cellars in the centre of town, which do not get flooded, indeed, under the chancel in the Wimborne Minster, there is a deep area which, as far as I am aware, never gets flooded.
The placing of the flood barriers around the River Allen has likely meant that the flood plains have been moved further downstream. Flooding in the centre of the town appears to be unlikely nowadays.
Why do we not
. Take a ''deep breath' and purchase the land for future the benefit of the town, build an large under-land car park as they have done in Hyde Park in London?
. Charge people for parking and thereby gain constant revenue a year by year to pay back for the expense of the purchase of the land and provide an ongoing income for the town for years to come?
. Replace it with green belt on top, which can be used for various things such as social events, cafe and small lake?
. Generally improve the green 'vista' of the centre of the town?
Please try to keep hold of the "LUNG" of green land in the centre of Wimborne, before we strangulate ourselves with more heavy-duty development?


323: I was delighted to receive your flyer. It prompted me to write to the Planning Department to say just how much I am IN FAVOUR of this development which will give the town a very much needed boost commercially,in improving the green outlook,and in terms of increasing employment (something you fail to ever mention!). I have lived here for 32 years and that 'bit of green' you speak of is a joke. Unless you are an avid cricket supporter and now there will be an improved ground for them. What Waitrose propose is 1000% aesthetically better than what is inaccessible now. I just hope the majority of us true locals support this excellent company and leave you lot with your heads firmly in the sand!


322: I have suggestion. Organise an event whereby the names of the people who are attending are put into a database. This is merged into the template letter. The event should mean a prestigious dinner and lots of fun, some speeches etc. Before the people leave they are asked to sign the letter, so like Waitrose you get the signatures but more.Or perhaps a coffee morning.
You should break even and have money in the pot. Some people may be voting for Waitrose because they feel lonely not feeling that they having much enjoyment in their life. KWTG can do just that!

321: I am so sick of the whole thing. We cannot use the sacred pitch anyway, i have a young son who likes to kick a ball around but can we place our unworthey feet on the pitch? NO WAY!!! But we can look thougth the railings and wonder why. Hope all you KWG LOSERS grow up.I WANT WAITROSE, DO ALL YOU PEOPLE REALLY THINK IT WILL SPOIL WIMBORNE OR MAYBE YOU THINK IT WILL LOWER YOUR HOUSE PRICES?? OR MAYBE YOU JUST WANT WIMBORNE TO DIE ON ITS KNEES?? SOMERFIELDS IS THE WORST SHOP EVER, EVEN THE PEOPLE WHO WORK THERE HATE IT. GO WAITROSE!!!!!!!.   This letter is in fact two successive letters from the same person. Web site manager


319 : The character and beauty of Wimborne is in danger of being irretrievably destroyed if the locale authority do not take measures to maintain the character and improve where necessary Wimborne town. By destroying this green sanctuary in the hart of Wimborne is not the way forward. If an additional supermarket is deemed to be required what about the Allanview car park. Any supermarket would be more than pleased to provide a multi story car park to replace the existing and provide the additional car parking spaces that would be required.
The local plan is suppose to protects this site, that is what Local Plans are for! Policy RCDEV1 chapter 6.212 dose this unless a replacement is found, but shouldn't this be like for like (how do you replace open space in the centre of town, not with a piece of flood plane out of town). Paragraph 12.52 specifically protects this area from development for other purposes . Take note if this site is developed there is no defence to stop the other open spaces itemised under paragraph 12.52 of the Local Plan being developed "Colehill Cricket Ground and the allotments" etc.


318: If KWTG is to oppose to having any development on the cricket green, then I believe we should change the current situation of the green, rather than having it as a cricket only area (apart from on folk festival) it should be made into a public access area so it is actually worth keeping, wimborne already has another cricket area to practice/play on at Pamphill, there is no reason this couldn't be used as the regular wimborne cricket ground, and the current green couldn't be turned into a park or a local sports club with a track, jumping pits and other equipment rather than just cricket which isn't used enough.
I expect more people would want to save the green if was made more useful for them or their children and other children in the future.
Therefore if wimborne is not going to use the green effectively for it's people, then a waitrose would probably make much better use of the space.

317: At present there is no public access to this ground to view the river. I think the waitrose plan looks like an improvement.We need a decent shop in this town. It will probably increase the trade for the other shops.It will also encourage more diverse retailers to fill the empty precinct that makes us look like a ghost town


316: Wimborne has other green space - the park/recreation ground. The current cricket field is NOT public. The Waitrose proposal will use about 1/3 of the existing field - the remaining 2/3 will be PUBLIC green space. Pollution will be reduced, not increased - people won't need to drive to Ferndown or Poole to find a good supermarket if we have one of our own. (The current Somefield is hopeless). I support the development. (I didn't originally, but attending the meetings showed how well they took people's concerns into account when they modified their proposals). Increased trade in the town should allow the appallingly run-down state of Crown Mead to be improved, too.

315: c'mon guys. you know how it works. there's a legal process that has to be run thorugh, backhanders either do or don't get taken, the land owner (for no earthly good reson) suddenly decides to end an on-going lease that's never been in question before, Waitrose gradually wins over the public and the rest of us either lie down and die or keep shouting until it's actually there, built, in the middle of the ever expanding commercially viable success that every small town with any character left will slowly become.
Could someone ask Waitrose if they'd like to buy my soul, I don't think I need it anymore

314: If Waitrose was already on the site occupied by Somerfield and it was Somerfield applying for permission to develop the cricket pitch, I can't see that there would be any public support at all. The Local Plan says that there is already enough supermarket provision for a town of the size of Wimborne. I would like to think that Planning Committee Members would take no account of which retailer is to be the first of many future occupiers of the site but test the application against Local Plan Policies alone. It might suit some of us now if the cricket ground becomes a Waitrose, but in ten, twenty years time when it's been bought up by SupaSava then we should never forgive ourselves for destroying forever such a precious jewel in the very heart of our town.

313: Waitrose appeals to a very upscale customer. Its high prices mean that it's a poor option as the 'main' supermarket serving the community. OK, so Wimborne is obviously over-represented with the gourmet green-wellies, that is why Waitrose wants to pitch-up there. But there's a double whammy for many in the community on average incomes and below. Not only will the store be too expensive, but the stores they've been accustomed to using will buckle under the competitive pressure from this newcomer.
As a rule of thumb, the UK is now very well served by supermarkets. There are very few areas in the UK where there isn't a supermarket within a 10-minute drive time. They should be kept to the ring roads, not be given permission to plunder valuable green space.


312: I don't believe this. We have the govenment saying they want to battle pollution and over-development and preserve rural Britain yadi yadi yada and then they go and stick yet ANOTHER supermarket on a beautiful patch of grass.
I don't understand this. For starters, part of the charm of Wimbourne has always been the smaller shops, which will undoubtedly suffer as a result of this, causing havoc with the local economy. It will increase traffic in the town (which at times is a hellish experience anyway) and in the process of making this 'development' they are also taking away an area that can be used for much needed recreation for all local people.
If the council has any sense at all, they will decline the application.


311: Has no-one any back bone or energy to put a stop to this dreadful plan.
This is a well loved and cared for cricket ground, which has hosted some class games. The beauty of having a little green lung, where weary shoppers or cricket enthusiasts could cheer on their favourite cricket side.
Why not put a Supermarket at Redcotts instead? or better still the conurbation is well served with super markets,bring back some old fashioned grocers, and of course the butchers and fishmongers that were there years ago.!
Leave the green space alone, local commerce has slaughtered Wimborne town centre, it has nothing to offer anymore. A tad too twee !!!!!!


310 :Have just handed in letters to EDDC Planning.  A couple of extra thoughts cropped up:  
Following a day and a half of rain I see that  the lower end of Somerfield car park is partly under water and impassable, while  the adjoining pavement is also submerged,  with water gushing out of a manhole by the river, presumably due to raised  river water levels. Luckily no underground carpark there...I put a PS note to that effect in letter I just posted. 
Another thought - how much support for Waitrose comes from out-of-town addresses,  and NOT Wimborne residents. I'd be interested to know what proportion of residents is actually represented, if that's possible.  
That's all for now, I cant make the fri 30th 2.30 but husband Tom has said he'll be there.  
Good luck,

309: EDDC Planning Dept. would do well to ponder this little story: a few weeks ago, my teenage cousin from Barcelona came to stay with us. Naturally, we showed him the sights of Wimborne. As we walked towards the river Allen through Crown Mead, he was absolutely enchanted by the sight of the gently flowing river, the trees and, of course, the cricket field. He literally gasped with delight!
   For many residents and visitors alike, this is what Wimborne is all about. The town attracts people all the year round because there's a special feeling of tranquillity and space here - something very rare nowadays in British towns.     If the cricket field is sold off for development, no amount of ''landscaping'' is going to hide the fact that Wimborne, its residents and visitors will have lost a unique feature forever. What they will gain are endless traffic hold-ups and increased pressure on scant parking spaces. And even more small shops will be forced to close.    Objecting to the building of a second supermarket which  would destroy our green space is not a dog-in-a-manger attitude. It's about preserving the character of Wimborne for future generations, and not letting that die. Please avoid making such a regrettable and short-sighted decision.


308: Am I correct in saying this would make five roundabouts in a row between Crown Mead and Poole Road. A distance at a guess of less than half a mile. Is this a world record?
Wimborne residents will have to replace their left hand tyres twice as often as the right. On a serious note, I wonder if there are any guidelines about how many roundabouts can be squeezed into a short road.
Elderly and inexperienced drivers from the Wimborne area already take long detours to avoid using the canford bottom roundabout. This may trap them on Leigh Road forever.
Any one else have an opinion on this?
Mat

307: We object strongly to the planning application. However, the main issue would appear to be the ownership of the land. For Hanham's ground to become a truly public open space, it's new owner would have to be a well intentioned individual or preferably the council !
Steve

306: Please keep up the excellent work that you are doing. I know how time consuming this whole process is for you and your team but the goal will be worth all the effort. We wouldn't feel satisfied with ourselves if we just let Waitrose have their way and destroy such a important area.
I have enclosed a copy of my letter of objection just for your information. I do know it is very important in these situations for people to write their own individual letters as planners tend to take much less notice of 'standard type' letters with only a signature on the bottom.
Good luck and best wishes,

305: I spent about an hour at the allendale last evening and listened to other people but mainly to Mr. Lancaster. A couple of things which I gained from it were -
The letters received by the council either for or against the proposal are not taken into account simply as a percentage for and against, but more for their actual content. Far more attention will be paid to letters expressing individual concerns than a sample letter with names/addresses added - I don't know how many people will have already used your sample letter but it may be worth telling them that using their own words will
carry far more weight.
The council have yet to hear back from most of the concerned bodies - ie traffic/environment/chamber of trade etc, but I am sure the potential  traffic congestion at the entry to the proposed car park could well be a significant point against the granting of the application. As we have heard before,
there is no guarantee Waitrose would be the actual operator if planning was  granted -it is given to the site - however he did clarify that the granting of  permission for a supermarket bears no relation to any other planning, and housing would be extremely unlikely to ever gain approval. A lot of the people 'for'
waitrose at the earlier exhibitiions were convinced that there would be something  built there and that waitrose was the lesser of two evils. This is simply not  true.
I do wonder whether we shouldn't come up with some proposal for making the existing green area more accessible and used by the local residents -  what are the chances of summer holiday activities for children/maybe some  seasonal markets - christmas/easter/ in addition to the folk festival useage?
If we simply fight this on the basis of wanting to keep the area green, it comes  across as all negative - Anyway, just a thought.


304: 30th November is no problem for me, either morning or afternoon, but as much notice as possible would be good!
Best wishes

303: My family and i have lived in wimborne for some ten years now.We were attracted by its Town Centre, full of interesting shops,river,green areas,relatively light traffic, and complete lack of large retail outlets.i feel the current supermarket and supermarket and precinct area could be easily up-graded to provide a wonderful shopping facility for Wimborne.For those that need a larger store, there are plenty of options only a short car or bus-ride away.
This development would not only lose a green area forever,but would have to drag in unwanted traffic from all surrounding areas to support it, returning Wimborne to the awful bottleneck for traffic that i remeber from years before the by-pass.If the landowners
are intent on selling, then so be it, but this should be regarded as a golden opportunity to acquire the land, and really develop it as a beautiful green area to be enjoyed by future generations of Wimborne folk.
If this development is passed, I know I will not be alone in losing total confidence in our town planners, and I will never set foot inside Waitrose doors on principle.
Ron

302: Your campaign is flawed, the cricket ground is not in the centre of Wimborne, a friend of ours who has been coming here for the past 12 years did not even know the cricket ground existed. There is no access to the ground at the moment, if Waitrose build the public will have a riverside walk, an area will be landscaped and the residents of the care home will have a better outlook. Without Waitrose Wimborne will become a town of estate agents and a loss of small specialist shops, do you really want this ? Who will pay for the upkeep of the ground if it is not developed. Whatever happens the ground is going to be sold, better Waitrose than a block of flats.
David

 301: Following recent press reports of the National Trust's interest in   preserving green spaces from development, perhaps it would be sensible  to inform them of the situation and that they might care to get involved.

300: I am just writing after reading the article in the Echo about this press briefing, which I felt raised no objection at all to Waitrose's proposals. There is something very underhand going on with this and I, for one, am sick of all the secrecy surrounding this issue. If we had a public meeting, at least everyone would be able to put their points of view across - which is how democracy is supposed to work!
I shall be writing to Robert Walter to lend my support for his call for a public meeting which I hope I will have the pleasure of meeting some of you at, if they agree to it!
With very best wishes,


299: C!MON EVERYBODY,DONT LET THEM DO TO WIMBORNE WHAT THEY DID TO THE TOP OF POOLE TOWN IN THE 60!S.THAT MONSTROSITY OF AN ARNEDALE CENTRE,THAT AWEFUL BARCLAYS BUILDING,AND THE LOSS OF THE LADIES WALKING FIELD,SUPPOSEDLY LEFT TO THE PEOPLE OF POOLE FOR PERPETUIT

298: Why do we need another supermarket 50 metres from an existing supermarket  and what will the view be like for the old peoples home when waitrose is built. surely this is very bad planning it would be much better out of town we do need another supermarket but not there

297: Keep up the good work! You can count on me to join in with any actions forthcoming. With nearly a whole row of vancant shops opposite Somerfield it really does beg the question why they wish to destory the cricket pitch for ever.

296: Good man, with you all the way.

295: Well, the Cricket pitch will surely go and I see little wrong with that. Yes, its green space but nobody can use it except a few people for what is after all just a game. To imagine that this land will be allowed to remain as public access green space is daydreaming at best. The hard fact is that if Waitrose do not develop this site sympathetically then it will go for housing, and bottom end housing at that I expect.

294: To build a Supermarket on the beautiful green land that is Wimbornes' cricket pitch is appalling and plans for this should not be accepted

293: Thanks for organising the campaign. I appreciate your efforts and wholeheartedly support your view.

292: I am appalled at the secrecy with which Waitrose held its 'Press Briefing' on October 2. The company really is not doing itself any favours and should perhaps consider appointing a new adviser - preferably one that values democracy and open discussion.

291: Dear Philip You’ve got to have a public enquiry. I live in North London (my mum is still in Wimborne) and we have just had one for a development of 4 blocks 4 storeys high with 2 flats on each floor. We were able to contribute enormously at the Enquiry ( and needed to; Enfield council, defending their rejection of the scheme were pathetic). I would be delighted to pass on my experience if it comes to that. I am so shocked at this development and that the Hanham family are allowing it. The cricket ground (on which I played quite a bit back in the 70’s) is a major open space and a blessing to the whole feel of the town. When it’s gone it’s gone. Why don’t they just knock down the whole grubby development of shops that includes Somerfields (I see Boots got out) and build a decent supermarket on that? The whole effect on the traffic in Wimborne will be huge too. Anyway you know all this – KEEP UP THE GOOD FIGHT and ignore all apathy. People power can and does win. My very best wishes to you and your colleagues.

290: Another supermarket in the town may be good for the residents but the cricket ground really does provide wimborne with much of its unique character that most towns lack. Wimborne has managed to keep much of its old character over a number of years.

289: Leave the cricket field alone and build where the cricket field is going. This will not add to congestion

288: As with most other councils, green spaces are being eroded for cash. A more purposeful use of such land, if it has to be, would be something for the people. A leisure centre such as the one at Littledown would be better seeing as it is the most used centre in the UK. What about a botanical gardens as a tourist attraction? Might taake years to develop, but it would keep the place green and attract tourism. Far too far sighted for councils though...they can't see further than their noses.

287: I agree with everything you mention, BUT... if a supermarket such as Waitrose is not built somewhere like the Cricket Ground, it will most likely be built 'out of town'. This will mean less people come into the town centre and so the small, local shops will still disappear, owing to a lack of business. Please don't misunderstand... I'm not all for this development, but I do thing everyone should view the options realistically.

286: Thanks for this Email re views - or not - of prosp ective candidates in Local Election. As I can not bring myself to vote for anyone in UKIP and no-one else will state their personal view I feel that I will not be able to vote at all as I feel so strongly about keeping our beautiful Cricket Ground free from development. Thanks again for putting me in the picture.

285: As I understand it the cricket pitch is being sold in order to raise money for the Hanham's estate. While in return the cricketers are being offered a new pitch near the old grammar school. Perhaps somebody could answer me this; why not sell the proposed new site for the cricket pitch to Waitrose instead?

284: The cricket field is privately owned and not public open space even though many correspondents seem to think the cricket field is public property. The owners would have every right to erect a 6ft high fence round the field and shut it off from public view. They also have the right to develop the cricket field, subject to planning approval, if that is their wish. The trustees of the Trust, who own the field, also have a duty of care to the beneficiaries of the Trust and to maximise the assets for future generations. What then are they to do with their cricket field which you must remember is a PRIVATE field? Apply for houses/ flats and garages. This would fit in with Government thinking on Town Centre sites. Maybe a mixture of Houses and commercial premises? Both would probably be accepted on appeal as they fit in with Government guidelines. If the Waitrose scheme i s approved then the Trustees will have managed to increase the value of the Trust and at the same time give Wimborne a LARGE public open space in the centre of the Town, something the town does NOT have now. Surely this is a better deal than flats/ houses all over the site and no public access. You can of course argue that it should remain as it is for ever but this is not really realistic in the present circumstances. I personally take my hat off to the Trustees who have achieved a very difficult balancing act and have increased the value of their asset and at the same time given Wimborne a huge public open space in the centre of the Town. If approved the cricket club moves to an idyllic new setting with a new pavillion(something they cannot now afford), the Town has a supermarket which again it badly needs( see the chamber of commerce opinion) and Wimborne has an open space of over an acre which I suggest is the subject of a design competition. The benefits to all concerned far outweigh the emotive arguements and i am sure these are apparent to all who stop and think.

283: The area surrounding the cricket pitch has already been ruined through a lack of cohesive planning and design, as well as poor piecemeal building - witness the dreadful old people's flats, the ambulance station, the police station, Wessex House (Savills) and the Teachers Building Society. These examples of shoddy (and cheap) design don't belong so near the centre of a town that is supposed to be one of the finest places to live in the country! The current supermarket - be it Safeway, Morrisons or Somerfield (whatever it is at the moment)- is perceived to be located in a 'backwater', and does not offer the quality of product inhabitants of this area expect. This is what needs to be addressed! The cricket club would be delighted to go to a new home and they get a much finer pitch in the process! They can't afford to stay where they are! Of course, the ideal solution would be: demolish the existing supermarket, and build the Waitrose on that site with increased (underground) parking - possibly etending under the present cricket pitch. But then we know this is unaffordable; the owners of the land don't get the income they need; and the cricket club is left with poor facilities (even if they could afford the new rent.) The sad thing is, if the Waitrose build does not go ahead, the cricket club could well fold, and then who would keep up the resultant open space and what would it become? A couple of football pitches? A dog-walkers paradise?

282: There is a lot of heat, mis-directed emotion and selective quoting on both sides of this Waitrose argument. It's a complex discussion. However, the 'preserve our green' argument is particularly emotional. If the Wimborne Cricket Club was a proper village green I would oppose any development most strongly. But the Cricket Club is not a green. I have felt for many years that it is a sad wasted facility used by very few local people. The green is not available to the public for everyday use, so it is not a green in any real sense. On 3 sides it is surrounded by unattractive walls and railings. It can barely be seen, let alone accessed. The one remaining side by the river is hardly 'village green like' in it's outlook and amenities - we can just see a green field with a couple of dilapidated sheds. It could be delightful, with river frontage and green space for residents to relax and play. But in truth, the green is just a mown field used by a very few people on a few days every year. The point at issue is not the green space, but whether a new supermarket would benefit Wimborne or not. That's another argument. If the choice is between leaving things as they are or gaining something of greater use to the residents, I will support change. If Wimborne could have a 'proper' village green that would be well worth fighting for, but fighting just to maintain the unsatisfactory status quo is not worthwhile.

281: The artist's impression above (I suspect the writer means the impression on the main page..KWTG web site manager) is completely inaccurate and the person who did this should be ashamed to call themselves an artist,The scale is stupid. Waitrose would take up much more room. Wimborne is nice because it doesn't look like Winton. It should stay that way.

280: I work in Lymington where Waitrose has just taken over the old Morrisons building. The situation is very similar as it is on the edge of the Town. If I go to Waitrose I do not stray in to the Town, and if I go to the Town I do not also go to Waitrose. People will drive in and drive out of the Town again, they will not go into the Town. All that will happen is that we will get even more conjestion than we already have. I believe people will shop in Waitrose but the only result will be more cars and more lorries. Is it worth losing the cricket pitch for this. Already the Town is attracting the faceless chain businesses we don't want any more or their won't be a market town to visit, it will just be one more boring suburb.

279: I watched an interesting program on TV regarding Supermarkets going into small towns. They contacted 'Friends of the Earth' I believe, who have a special section that 'help' when Supermarkets try to come in. What was particularly interesting was the way that supermarkets use 'sweeteners'. It would seem that these sweeteners are not being used appropriately. I wondered on the 'legality' of the cricket ground being moved and rebuilt etc by Waitrose, as this (without knowing any of the detail)may not be an appropriate sweetener. What sweeteners should be used for, is what the supermarket would really do that would be an immediate impact/benefit to Wimborne and it's residence i.e. Improvements in the infrastructure that would cope with the potentially extra 1000 cars a day. The lady's name from 'Friends of the Earth' was Vanessa Bell (on the programme).

278: Whilst not opposed to a supermarket somewhere in Wimborne, I don't feel the cricket pitch is the place. Not many towns these days can boast of an area like this in the town. Many years ago I played hockey there when the hockey club and cricket club shared the ground. If Waitrose are so keen to come to Wimborne why don't they buy out Somerfield and the precint area and develop that. The picture is all very nice, but how can the cricket area be big enough for a supermarket, carpark and a green area - can't see it myself. Also as this is a runoff for the River Avon, whats going to happen when the Avon bursts it banks - will the overflow now go into town, flooding the shops?

277: I do not wish to see a Waitrose store on our cricket field

276: I have lived in Dorset for over 20 years and have always enjoyed my visits to Wimborne. A great big NO to development of the cricket square. Commercialism is going too far

275: The new image on the kwtg website of the proposed supermarket shows a very rosy view of the carpark. On their plan Waitrose showed the upper car park to be at the same level as the shop floor i.e. approx 8ft higher than your image shows. Also the original railings and wall along Rowlands Hill are very unlikely to be left as shown on your image. KWTG is doing a good job of presenting facts intelligently and fairly to oppose the Waitrose building however this new website image presents too favourable a case and possibly helps the Waitrose cause.

274: No Waitrose and asociated urbanisation of town centre area with consequent traffic volume. Only development that is acceptable is for a "park" area for the whole site with cricket pitch to move (eventually when conditions allow). Waitrose's park area inadequate, the area will already have been spoiled if the superstore comes. Vote NO!

273: The Community Magazine (2nd February) reported that opinion in Wimborne regarding the Supermarket - Cricket Ground debate was divided 53% against : 44% in favour and 3% did not know. The public around Wimborne should be reminded that this survey by Wimborne Town Council was restricted to a random selection of precept taxpayers solely from the Parish of Wimborne. It excluded all Wimborne businesses, in and out of the Parish, who are also, of course, ratepayers. A recent Wimborne Chamber of Trade poll showed that of 81 replies, 77 were in favour of Waitrose and 4 against - a majority of 95%. Nor did the Town Council survey take into consideration the opinions of those other local residents outside the confines of the parish itself who, if there were a quality grocer in this market town, could and probably would patronise such a store. These prospective local customers number in excess of 30,000 within a 10 minute drive of the centre of town. The Survey showed that only 157- less than 0.5% of those who consider themselves from Wimborne - gave the 'thumbs down' to a new supermarket. Without the voice of the commercial community and the immediate catchment area, can the Town Council survey be considered in any way representative?

272: If Hanham Estates plan to sell the cricket field it is a sad fact of life that it will go for development in one way or another. It would be wonderful for someone to purchase it for the town and maintain it as a green space with perhaps a playpark for children. That would take a miracle at least. Housing would be simply dreadful. Waitrose seems to be the best option. It is a relatively ethical supermarket that sells quality produce (and local produce) with lots of choice. Somerfield is little more than a Spar or convenience store. It is not adequate for the people of Wimborne and so most people will travel to Ferndown or Poole. Dorchester (as many lovely old market type towns across England) has an in town Waitrose and is a really vibrant, buzzing town with individual shops and high street shops that offer plenty of choice and variety whilst still retaining its charm. Wimborne is slowly dying with an excess of opticians, estate agents, hairdressers and shoe shops. You are pretty stuck if not after any of the above! Due to the rubbish foresight of our planners (who have no say at the end of the day if plans go to appeal) who built Streets Meadow on its orginal site when it was known Waitrose were interested in Wimborne we are all in this dilemma. Waitrose could have gone where the rest home is and the rest home could have been sited on the cricket field with plenty of green space for families to enjoy. Most people I know are crossing their fingers and hoping Waitrose goes ahead. It is the best choice for the town and would allow local people to shop for their family food in their own town. We would of course also use the banks, post office, shoe shops etc at the same time! We would not have to travel out of town

271: A new supermarket on the proposed site will be disastrous for Wimborne. The inevitable increase of traffic and loss of small traders around the square

270: My household was one of the 500 chosen at random to vote on whether a supermarket should be allowed to be built on the Hanham's Cricket Ground. As I stated in my reply the choices of vote were either are you in favour of a supermarket,are you against, or don't know. This is not sufficient. What I and others would like to know is this. The Hanham Estate will sell off the cricket pitch. The Cricket Club want this too. It will not necessarily then stay as green open space. Would the Council approve it for planning for the housing so desperately needed in the area? If so I cannot imagine any developer would be willing to keep as much green open public space as Waitrose has offered. This concerns me very much. I have lived in Wimborne since 1974 and Somerfield is not doing anywhere near the trade that Safeway did. So in my opinion most Wimborne folk are going elsewhere to shop anyway, creating a reverse traffic flow.
Edith

269: I used to play cricket for Wimborne. My mother still lives in the town and I am shocked that this scheme can even be dreamt of. Local people must fight this by writing to object - the only way to stop these crazy proposals is through group action. Don't lie down and let it happen!!!

268: The fact that this town needs a second supermarket is right & true, it does!. The problem is twofold, first, taking away one of the great & quaint area's of this town is not the way to draw people & businesses back in. This town is one of the most beautiful towns in this area, taking away this cricket field would in my opinion take away a part of the character of this wonderful town. Second, bringing in Waitrose is not the way to do this. Waitrose is one of the most expensive Supermarkets in the field. We already have a supermarket that is expensive, why bring in another expensive one. They say they want to do this to bring people back into the town, you do not do that by making the town more expensive. You do that by bringing in a draw, something that people will save money from going to, not feel that they have been ripped off by going there. I know some have said that they do not want lets say Asda here as that would take more people away from the other businesses, but surly if we had something like that people would be drawn here & that being the case, would then look around the town. Thus the other businesses would then gain more custom from that, not less. I am sorry if not a lot of people agree with what I have said, but that's my thoughts on this matter.

267:Wake up Wimborne and don't sleepwalk into allowing the proposed building of Waitrose to go ahead. Don't take for granted the beauty of Wimborne and don't be panicked into thinking that if we don't have a Waitrose then Wimborne will die. Building a Waitrose in order to revitalise Wimborne may seem a solution, but it will create far more problems than it solves. For a start it will bring an extra 2,000 cars a day streaming (or rather crawling) in and around Wimborne. Why on earth do you think the town planners built the Wimborne by-pass in the 1970's ? Are we really advocating bringing back the traffice which blighted Wimborne in the past ? Our relatively traffic-free streets are the envy of many traffic-clogged towns. Please don't go for the quick-fix building of a supermarket. Don't take this seemingly easy option to boost trade to the town. We attract many tourists in the summer - eager to experience and share the beauty of the Minster with its small local shops and floral decorated town centre. Hot traffic-clogged streets full of polluting exhaust fumes will quickly turn this source of revenue away. The proposed sale of the land which currently houses the cricket ground should be seen as an opportunity to create a new attractively planned green area; one opening up the space and giving everyone access to the river. We need to think creatively in order to take advantage of what should be seen as an opportunity to improve the character and attractiveness of Wimborne. It will take talent, ingenuity and hard work to achieve this and I believe that the people of Wimborne have these qualities in full measure. Retaining the unique beauty of Wimborne won't be easy - but nothing worth fighting for ever is. Please wake up before it's too late !

266: The new image on the kwtg website of the proposed supermarket shows a very rosy view of the carpark. On their plan Waitrose showed the upper car park to be at the same level as the shop floor i.e. approx 8ft higher than your image shows. Also the original railings and wall along Rowlands Hill are very unlikely to be left as shown on your image. KWTG is doing a good job of presenting facts intelligently and fairly to oppose the Waitrose building however this new website image presents too favourable a case and possibly helps the Waitrose cause.

265: I find it hard to see how anyone with a genuine interest in Wimborne can justify replacing the Cricket Green with a supermarket. Wimborne is holding on to a community spirit; We have some great independent stores run by locals and valued by locals. The cricket green may not be the "last remaining open space" but why wait? We should be taking hold and preserving all we can, while we can. Protect our local shops and our open space. As for the comment below "give the town a chance to grow in quality & stature within the county of Dorset". I'm sure we could do far better than build a Waitrose on our cricket pitch. Surely you don't consider this proposal a solution to a pressing problem, let alone the best way forward for Wimborne.

264: I like many others am not against supermarkets where they are needed but I feel for a town the size of Wimborne to have two supermarkets as close to each other is crazy and not needed and I am totaly against this sort of misuse of greenfield sites in the centre of any town not just Wimborne and at the end of the day its time that the will of the community was stronger than the will of the planners and large companys etc who only care about profit , I have only been living in Wimborne for a couple of years so still a newcomer to some but on a summers day what better than to walk up the precinct between WH Smiths and Somerfields with my daughter and stand by the river feeding the ducks and swans ,watching the trout swim by and then look across the river to see a green open space and a cricket match in progress ,what could be more idyllic certainly not a concrete monstrosity like a supermarket , let Wimborne be the town that stands their ground against the planners and lets keep all our town centre green field sites for our childrens future if not for our own ,In this day and age with the internet as fast as it is I for one rarely ever visit a supermarket as 90% of my shopping is delivered to my door via online shopping and I always support the greengrocer in town for all my fresh fruit and veg.

263: A big no to the cricket ground being built on for anything. 2000 extra cars a day around the town, it would be madness

262: This whole idea of another supermarket is quite unbelievable. The Chamber of Commerce seem to have such a backward view and you have to wonder whose interests they have at heart, Wimborne and its residents or their own gain. I'm a director of a retail company and their arguments for this supermarket are pretty weak. The idea that a better brand of supermarket would attract more visitors is completely hypothetical and unfounded. I actually believe a quality store like Waitrose would further damage the small shops and stores. As they are connected to John Lewis then they can offer more for less than any local business can. Local butchers, grocers would all be affected. I investigated the cost of shop rates in Wimborne and was frankly shocked. They are close to many rates in parts of London! If the Chamber of Commerce wants more shopping custom in Wimborne then they should reduce the rates, provide better support to new independent stores especially those with local produce and reduce the number of franchise and non-essential stores like opticians - how made opticians does a Wimborne need!! In this day and age, building on any green site is totally unnecessary and should be avoided at all cost.

I THINK WE SHOLD HAVE WAITROSE ON THE CRICKET FIELD BECAUSE WE NEED A DECENT SUPERMARKET IN WIMBORNE THAT WILL STOCK EVERYTHING WE NEED IN GOOD QUALITY BECAUSE 2/3RDS OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE TOWN SHOP OUTSIDE OF IT BECAUSE SOMERFIELD DOESN'T CATER FOR EVERYONES TASTES AND I'M AFFRAID THEIR PRICES ARN'T CHEAP FOR PEOPLE ON LOW INCOMES! EVEN I KNOW THAT WAITROSE FOOD IS BETTER QUALITY THAN SOMERFIELDS, PLUS CRICKET LOVERS WILL NOT HAVE TO WORRY TO MUCH BECAUSE THE FIELD WILL BE RELOCATED ELSEWHERE IN THE TOWN LETS STOP MOANING AT LEAST WAITROSE WILL HELP KEEP MONEY IN THE TOWN AND LETS HOPE BRING IN MORE TRADE FOR THE LITTLE SHOPS. I KNOW FOR EXAMPLE MY PARENTS WHO LIVE IN WESTMOORS ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO DO A GOOD SHOP AFTER THEY HAVE SPENT THE DAY SHOPPING IN WIMBORNE. THANKYOU A COLEHILL RESIDENT.

261: My dog and I use a large area of green open space in the middle of Wimborne everyday, it's available to all 24 hours a day 7 days a week and it's called the Recreation Ground. Don't use untruths (i.e the Cricket pitch is the last open space!) to try & destroy the commercial viability of Wimborne - grow up and use the wonderful open space that is already here, and give the town a chance to grow in quality & stature within the county of Dorset. Please note I have lived in & around Wimborne all my life (40+ years) making me a true voice of the town.

260: My husband and I moved here 16 months ago after living in London our whole lives - its beautiful and the thoght of it turning into a clone of other local towns (and we looked at many before deciding on Wimborne)is a worry. The cricket green is a real feature as you drive into the town - the thought of seeing ANY development on this ground will change the face of the town forever. I will be writing to my councillor at the appropriate time and will be happy to help in any way I can.

259: I most certainly do not want Waitrose to take over the cricket green. I have only lived in Wimborne for 8 months and it is a beautiful town and the last thing it needs is a large supermarket ruining the centre and the Cricket green is used for Wimborne festival . There are plenty of supermarkets close by Tesco and sainsburys in Ferndown . And we have Somerfield In the town . I strongly oppose this move and plead with anyone to stop this from happening.

258: I live directly opposite the Field, and would be greatly disheartend to look out of my window and be presented with a supermarket, and considering parking is already a nightmare for people like my self, bringing a large supermarket would only worsen this situation. Thank You

257: To me, even thinking about destroying a wonderful green area is utterly insane and there is absolutely nothing wrong with Somerfield apart from the products being less expensive and of less quality.And what about less well-off people? surely they wouldn't even be able to afford the products from Waitrose! I think that people who are for this terrible idea are very selfish and aren't thinking of our beautiful countryside enough than they should be.

256: I am concerned like many of you by the proposal to step (or extend steps) to change the retailing in Wimborne from having stop keepers to large national and multi-national business organisations. Waitrose proposes a development on the Hanham's Cricket Ground. With a new arrival on the horizon and the arrival of Julian Graves, a large retailer, are we seeing business premises costing traders their survival in Wimborne. What I write here is to revive the heart, spirit and will of the traders of Wimborne. Wimborne is a market town with a rich architectural tapestry and composition of green landscape that sets it apart from neighbouring towns in the UK, people from far and wide, including from London go to tap into it's rhythm, culture and thriving community and decide to stay for a bit and even find they cannot leave this idyllic place. Wimborne is cosy, it is middle England. Modernist buildings cannot come off unless you have exceptionally gifted architect for it to come off, if and when poor building materials are used, and need to have generous budgets and sufficient time frames to complete them in with time particularly for consultation and for the design. I am concerned that this tapestry is being undermined by what might be described as narcissistic flamboyant (industrial) modernist buildings pursuit of a business ultimate corporate vision and it's inherent corporate clone architecture, that this is not in keeping with the soul of the town which makes for a poor aesthetic marriage between the two. The low standard dated developments to date are seen and will be seen by further generations as disjointed, awkward and see there being clash with the aesthetic beauty that is seen in historic architecture of Wimborne, that so epitomises city centres. We come to see these dated modern developments these like a toy project that once gleamed and was once oh so new and wonderful, was simply mirage, of false hopes, aspirations and dreams, and as we walk on by it is now without the promise it once so had. Just like the development that was built in the 1980's for shops and supermarket, one feels the unfulfilled hopes and dreams with a sense of depleted ness, an inner deadness that on rainy days comes to be dismal and have been made aware that many Wimborne people would be happy to see it demolished and redeveloped. The needs of the community were not given sufficient thoughtful consideration for the project to stand the test of time, at a time when the town was thriving. Many local people are very unhappy with the local supermarket. I interviewed a local person, he said when he moved to Wimborne, Wimborne Minster twenty five or so years ago was a town with a lot of shops, a unique place with all local hussell -bussell of a thriving town. The product and market life cycle of Safeway's has waned resulting in the handover to Somerfield, which has meant and both resulted that the local supermarket is an unhappy marriage with the character and needs of it's community. People perhaps have less reason to relocate, rent, and move home and shop here. The cricket ground in such a context then seems far removed from solving this problem as it stands. The cricket ground of historic value and although an asset that we have the Hanhams to thank for, it has been of insufficient benefit to Wimborne because the people it is intended for have not been allowed to access to it to have a stroll, walk their dog and have some lunch. It is necessary open space beside being an area of green land, and as such it has not reached it's full potential and is undervalued, and as it a result it is sourced as a source of contempt by it's opponents. The cricket facilities are no match to the cricket facilities that you see in Christchurch town centre. The Minister and the Tivoli are a large part of the heart of Wimborne because and due to with the love and altruism of its volunteers but the same love and altruism has sadly not been placed here for it to be more than area of green land, it admittedly has been neglected, this may partly due to low attendance. The sport's grounds in Wimborne are not well publicised well for local people to become involved (either as spectators or as participants), this includes our little heard of football club, this needs to be with not resorting to alcohol sponsored advertising to bring the community 'spirit' together. Wimborne has so much to offer it's community as a civilised community town. Maybe Keep Wimborne Green membership need to getting involved here and it has taken all this to get things to change. And here I have a suggestion, if I haven't already put across a suggestion. Wimborne needs to work on the very qualities I have mentioned, which are so much more again, it needs more individual shops or shops to pride themselves more on their individuality, providing a bakery with the fresh smell of bread in the morning, a specialist coffe.

255: Copy of a letter sent to
Cllr C
Chairman
East Dorset District Council

Dear Councillor
The Hanhams Cricket Pitch in Wimborne
It would appear that the "Waitrose on the Cricket Ground" issue has divided the normally peace-loving inhabitants of the Town.
The real point, however, is not the arrival of Waitrose, but the loss of the rather unique green space. Those who have expressed opposition to the idea are mostly concerned about the "urbanisation" and would like to reject any building on that land.
The matter has now been aired for some two years thus we would gather that there is no great urgency for it to be concluded with undue haste.
We would like to suggest that, since there will be local elections on the first Thursday in May next year, the matter be put to a referendum of the local electorate.
The question could be very simple "Should the EDDC Planners permit building of any kind to take place on the green space in Wimborne known as "Hanhams the Home of Wimborne Cricket"?".
This could be put just to the wards in close proximity to the town, say within 5 miles. However, it could be fair for this question to be put to the wider EDDC electors, since, if we are to believe the figures put forward by Waitrose, the Supermarkets in Ferndown and Verwood will have a loss of customers and that will affect their viability and sustainability also.
We urge you to consider this proposal.
Yours sincerely

254: Am wishing to support you, rather belatedly I'm afraid. I'm really upset I didn't get to the exhibition at the Allendale Centre. I think it would be very bad for Wimborne and am prepared to put in time. Has a petition been done? Is there enough volunteers to have the whole of Wimborne covered door-to-door to get several thousand signatures to hand in to the planners or possibly Waitrose? I've led 2 successful campaigns doing this and would be prepared to assist.

253: I'd like to express my support for the campaign against the proposed Waitrose developement. If there is anything I can do to support the opposition of the developement, publicly or otherwise, please let me know.

252: In the 24/7 rat-race world i'm forced to live in (at the behest of others), the tranquility of a Sunday morning in Wimborne town centre is one of life's more cathartic experiences. If Waitrose opens (can't see them staying closed on Sunday) then the ambience is gone forever... If Waitrose comes they should build / take over Crown Mead. And stay shut on Sundays !

251: We really cannot understand how anyone can even consider turning Wimborne into just another faceless town.The town is not large enough for two supermarkets...so, would Somerfield become an extra large charity shop?We love Wimborne...but would certainly be moving away when we retire in ten years time if the town is spoilt in this way...and so would many others whom we have spoken to. I have nothing against Waitrose - I used to work for them - but this is plainly wrong. Just avarice dictating policy.

250:Sad, very sad, please don't do it

249: It would be a shame to loose the green town centre, the traffic would also be a nightmare. I know that the land will be sold, but with some luck an agreement can be found.

248: Keep the green!

247: I used to work for Waitrose and think very highly of John Lewis Partnership, but I can't justify them or anyone building on the cricket ground.

246: I like Waitrose and hate cricket but I still think this isn't a good plan.

245: The cricket pitch should not be built on. Open spaces in the centre of towns villages should be protected.
Darren

244: I find it extraordinary that a proposal to site a supermarket on a beautiful cricket green in an historic town such as Wimborne is even being considered.The green is bordered by attractive residential houses some of them dating back to the Georgian and early Victorian periods.Even the new social services offices adjoining the green have been sympathetically rebuilt to fit in with the surrounding architecture.The area should be retained as it is for public enjoyment and future posterity.The erection of a ghastly glass and concrete edifice on such a site is inconceivable.Commercially of course it will kill more shops in the town if built.I would question the vague supposition that it will bring more business to the town-it will only bring unwanted traffic congestion and blight the appearance of that area of Wimborne.
Chris

243: How can this developement be beneficial to Wimborne? Look at Blandford and other similar towns. Dying because of one large store! What about the Folk Festival? All the car parking for that is on the cricket ground. So what happens when their is no parking? Suddenly the Folk Festival is moved to some where out of town (Canford Arena?) and what is the benefit of that to Wimborne? Keep Wimborne green. Think about the issues not just in the centre of town! All that extra traffic and no improvement to the roads!. The Wimborne by pass has failed to kep the traffic out of Wimborne. Midlehill Rd and Allenview Rd are now the bypasses for the Wimborne By Pass! Leigh Road cannot cope with existing levels of traffice yet Waitrose admit that Leigh Rd is the only route available for their delivery lorries. Remember that the proposed Churchill flats developement next to Catholic Church will increase traffic again on Leigh Rd. The plans show three roundabouts and two crossings between Rowlands Hill and Leigh Rd / Poole Rd junction. Has anybody though how the police, ambulance and fire brigades are going to get through bearing in mind that all their current bases will necessitate them using the Rowlands Hill to Leigh Rd / Poole Rd route? In Romsey, Waitrose wanted to build a store in the middle of town and 'people power' forced them to rethink and, eventually, build an out of town site. Come on Wimborne wake up and stop this over development. Come on Wimborne councillors stand up for our town or face the wrath at the ballot box.
Peter

243: Having visited the Waitrose exhibition this week I was pleased to see that they have listend to feedback from the consultation earlier and have produced a revised plan that is very acceptable. The town will now actually benefit from more green space that is accessable to the general public than it has now. We need to face facts here - the cricket pitch is a green space used by a minority of people. The Waitrose plan will create a parkland space with a very attractive river frontage that will be open to anybody. Finally, as I have been invited to vent my feelings, I will - I felt the staff from Waitrose at the exhibition were very professional and well informed. Unlike a representative of KWTG who was quite frankly very rude to my wife when she declined to take one of their leaflets - not a good strategy for gaining support!
Andrew .........Its a pity is it not that Waitrose do not publish any comment both in support of the proposals or as more likely, against. Peter KWTG Web master.

242: We do not want a cricket field behind our house we want it to remain on the site it is now as one of the central points of the town. Wimborne Minster is famous for its appearance and another supermarket can only adversely effect this.
Keith

241: Why have another supermarket when the one we have now is already undersubscribed?
Michel

240: I have lived in Wimborne since I was at Allenbourne middle school and remember the fields over by Walford Mill before the houses and surgery were built, also the houses behind the fire station. I dont want my daughter growing up not able to enjoy the green spaces left in wimborne a mere memory! Once it has gone it has GONE! Why if Waitrose were interested in Wimborne did they not buy the Safeways building instead of Somerfield? Lunacy....
Jessica

239: I'd like to express my support for the campaign against the proposed Waitrose developement. If there is anything I can do to support the opposition of the developement, publicly or otherwise, please let me know.
Alison

238: Now that the new old folks home has been built, i can't see that having a Waitrose would be a problem as it could hide what i must say is the most disgusting building in the town! And it is not the only bit of green in the town, have people forgotten about Redcotts? Yes it is not right in the centre but it is only a five minute walk away.
Martin sic

237: STOP Wrecking our towns and countrysides!
Jamie

236: Wimborne doesn't need another supermarket! Keep the cricket ground!
Helen

235: I am completely against the wimborne cricket pitch being turned into a supermarket. The cricket pitch is an old, central, recognisable, pleasant and green feature of wimborne - something we should be proud of. Something that not many old market towns still have, but we do and we should protect it. It is well loved in the town and it attracts an enormous ammount of tourism at the folk festival and people come from far and wide to watch the cricket and visit the cricketers arms pub. The thought that the cricket pitch could be turned into a supermarket of all hideous things, is simply disgusting. We all ready have a supermarket and we have room for it to be moved and expanded elsewhere - it doesn't need to destroy the cricket pitch - a well loved feature of wimborne.
Rose

234: We should keep wimborne green. Why build more Super markets when we already have one about 10 metres away
Katie

233: I am appalled that the council would even consider allowing Waitrose to build on our last area of central greenery. They may as well say they want to build on the Minster Green! So many people oppose this! We have one supermarket, so why use valuable green land on another one? It's pointless, when there are other areas in the vicinity of Wimborne that could be used. Don't let it go ahead.
Rosie

232: What I - and I'm sure others must be wondering - is why can't an improved supermarket be build around the existing Somerfield site - possibly somehow incorporating the empty shops between Boots and Smiths? Why are these shops empty? I know people who are for the Waitrose development just because they prefer Waitrose as a supermarket to Somerfield. What we all want is a good quality supermarket which compliments the town's other retailers.
Gill

231: My family have recently moved to Wimborne, and one of the nicest features of the town in my opinion is the Cricket ground. I am very concerned that building on this site will alter the whole feel of the town.
Tim

230: What I - and I'm sure others must be wondering - is why can't an improved supermarket be built around the existing Somerfield site - possibly somehow incorporating the empty shops between Boots and Smiths? Why are these shops empty? I know people who are for the Waitrose development just because they prefer Waitrose as a supermarket to Somerfield. What we all want is a good quality supermarket in the area designated for supermarket and shops, one which compliments the town's other retailers.
Gill

229: If I were to walk to Somerfield and pick up some food it seems obvious that my next course of action would be to walk home. Wouldnt it be brilliant if our town, our home, was transformed from a beautiful place to live to a supermarket ghetto? Also, what if you or I get hungry in the 100 yards or so between the supermarkets? We will obviously need another one to quench the hunger. It is more than just bizzare to build two supermarkets so close to each other in a town so small, it is the victory of big money over the small town.
Edward

228: Wimborne is a lovely market town with a unusually individual character which is fast being eroded by 'development' such as this.
Lycia

227: I have no objection either to Waitrose coming to Wimborne. I think it would be an asset, but not on the cricket field. Why cannot they use the Somerfield supermarket, and also buy out the surrounding shops, as most are charity ones, to make a bigger and better site for them. With the money Waitrose obviously have I am sure they can come to some agreement with the surrounding shops to buy them out! I think the passageway along the river, and those shops are an eyesore anyway! Oh, and the cricket field should be made in to an area where people can sit and enjoy the only bit of green we still have in Wimborne. Tables, seats and trees can be placed for all to enjoy.
Sandra

226: Wimborne does need a large high quality supermaket but not in the centre of one of the most attractive towns in southern England. It should be located outside the town so that people have easy access with parking and a regular bus service from the town centre. The development of the green space will be detrimental to the town and it's future.
Keith

225: People who would like to see a Waitrose on the cricket field should take into account the fact that it may not remain as such. After all, the original Safeway store in Crown Mead became a Morrison which later became a Somerfield. More importantly, once planning permission has been granted for a large retail supermarket the field could easily become the future site of, say, an even larger B & Q type do-it-yourself store. It should be remembered that in planning terms there is little difference.
John

224: Waitrose WILL destroy our town if it is allowed to build a superstore. We DO NOT NEED on a part of our town that means so much to so many people.
Alex

223:So much for the "green" being designated as an open space for recreation! Only if you are a member of the cricket club it seems. Today is a bank holiday. No-one is playing a match. No-one was misbehaving. But my son and husband were "thrown out" for using the cricket nets. At least Waitrose would allow the public access to use the land. Currently most of us are only allowed to look from the outside!
Pamela

222: Wimborne is not big enough to take the traffic, if this happens it will be the end of small traders. Anyone who believes the spin Waitrose and others are saying must be living on another planet
Trudi

221: Keep Wimborne a rural town, stop building on every space possible.
Justine

220: Interested to see that the cricket pitch is a designated "recreational space" - as its always locked and the general public have no access. Your impression of what the supermarket might look like wholly mis-respresents the real view that Waitrose put forward at the planning meeting, as does the impression that local stores object. Actually in the majority they all welcome a Waitrose store - as it will bring welcome trade to an area that is slowly being over taken by Opticians and Estate Agents. As a resident I also welcome the prospect of being able to shop in my own town - rather than having to use my car to drive to Ferndown.
Tamara

219: Wait up on the Waitrose development
Ewan

218: If you want to see what Supermarket competition can do when in near proximity, you only have to look towards Ringwood or Blandford Forum. Fortunately for Ringwood, Sainsbury's decided to take over the shell left by Somerfields, when they lost business to Waitrose. However, for Blandford Forum, Somerfields is just a brick eyesore with wooden boarding where the windows once were. In both towns, you also need to look at the effect the excessive supermarket provision has had on the local traders. Disasterous! The road network which would serve the Waitrose proposal is woefully inadequate. Adding the burden of traffic to Waitrose cause the road network jam at certain times of the day. Waitrose's proposal will not just affect the Cricket Pitch, it WILL have a negative affect everyone. Keep Waitrose out of Wimborne. Why not put them slightly out of town with a more suitable road network (A31) and more centrally to serve Broadstone, North Poole, Wimborne and Corfe Mullen.
John

217: My mother was a vice president of the club and spent her last years supporting them. Her memorial is Lorna's Gate and her ashes were scattered there. To her family this is an important location. I hope it will remain unspoilt by commerce.
Geoffrey

216: I do not want to see the green changed to erm! what looks rather like a ghastly motorway service station. It would only mean, more cars, more traffic lights, blah blah! Not to mention more profit to buy yet more Sites. Same goes for Tesco.con. Good on you folks,
Steven

215: Why take away the greenery when crown mead is gradually becoming an unused shell, it dosen't take much to work out where Waitrose would be best placed. Most would welcome a Waitrose as suppose to Somerfield but not when it means sacrificing an area that makes Wimborne quite unique.
Lianne

214: What a horrible site that will be as you drive into Wimborne
Jane

213: No Waitrose or any other kind of Grocert store needed. We have it covered already!!!!
Jennifer

212: It would be a crying shame to lose the cricket pitch to the monstruous grip of the middle class, over priced Waitrose. What ever happened to supporting the locals! Love thy neighbour or feed and proliferate the power of corporate greed? Hmmmmmmmmmmm.. hard choice. And as for all that crap about their fine wine selection, stop being so sodding selfish!!! I can think of numerous "super"markets near by to satisfy your desire for fine wine.
Layla

211: Keep it don't kill it
Dave

210: Not on the cricket pitch... so many good memories, put it further from the main town please
Yasmina

209: Using a cricket pitch for a supermarket is bad enough, but putting that eyesore in the middle of the village is just plain silly
Leigh

208: Why does our local authority think it is acceptable to destroy the livelihoods of small businesses?
Ann

207: Losing the last decent expanse of green space within the town will forever change the idyllic appeal of Wimborne to both the local residents and the large amount of people who visit each year. This will surely have an adverse effect on all town businesses, as well as effect the bouyant property market within the area. I do not see any real evidence that it will benefit anyone other than the developers and the supermarket chain.
Paul

206: Just an idea, walking through the arcade next to Safeways/Morrison, and see that over half of the shops have either closed or have been turned into Charity Shops. A little bird has told me that W.H.Smiths would also like to sell up. Wonder if S/M would want to expand into those shops, and maybe allow Boots to run their own business from within? Has anyone thought to ask?
T

205: Supermarkets have destroyed the heart and soul of countless towns across GB. Why isn't more done to protect the character of our towns and cities? I sincerely hope that the KWTG action group are sucessful in persuading Waitrose to find another town - out of town!
Sophie

204: It would be a great shame if this green was lost. It is one of a diminishing number of town greens that plays a vital part in the community.
David

203: We do not need two supermarkets in Wimborne, especially on our one remaining piece of green space. It would certainly be no great loss if Waitrose took over the Somerfield!
Toby

202 :Paved over Paradise and put up a parking lot! Do the Council of Wimborne really think that this is what the people want or is money that important to them?
Sue and Martin

201: I am behind you all the way. I am sick of multi-national corporations destroying the souls and quality of people's and local businesses with these sick commercial developments. No more! We have a choice and the right to stop these greedy global fatcats.
Nikky

200: Who in their right mind would allow this to happen, apart from someone taking a back hander and the sniff of an easy buck...... why not build flats in the Minster while they're at it !!! better not give 'em idea's..... James

199: A big supermarket is totally unnecessary in Wimborne. Keep Wimborne green!
Chris

198:For God's sake, is nothing sacred? How much more is rampant consumerism going to continue to destroy the very fabric of our towns and villages? Support your local shops before its too late.. Don't let a horrible hedge fund take over our gorgeous ground!
Anthony

197: Why is Wimborne and its folks full of character? does the environment and landscape in which people choose to be, affect how the people and the place feel? -absolutely Wimborne is a growing and thriving town with conflicting land uses, much like any other growing urban settlement. Will the loss of its character and landscape detract from wimbornes appeal. -of course what then is the point of this loss of traditional landscape in terms of Wimbornes credentials? consumer needs and service providers are ever on the up but at what cost. Waitrose may do more than other supermarkets to source local food and provide responsibly but where is its responsibility and respect for its potential new home? this must surely be a consideration for the planners of this new store. keep Wimborne green. We all love it.
Dan

196:Geez! There is another supermarket within a few yards of this site plus at least 2 more in the surrounding area. Does Wimborne really need this supermarket. Is it for the good of the residents? Deeply upset.
Ben

195: More green less grey
Olly

194: Surely a brown field site is a more appropriate location for this supermarket.
Graham

193: Open spaces are valuable, and should be retained.
Paul

192: This is simply outrageous.
Katy

191: I must admit I am in two minds about this. Although it would be a shame to see the old ground go, Waitrose is a good supermarket. Exceptional wine collections. If it was an Asda or Tesco I would definately be against it. Which ever way this goes, I'm a winner really!!!
Mark

190: NO WAITROSE
Reena

189:Keep Wimbourne Green
Sharron

188: Please accept my sincere apologies if I sound so rude, but the people responsible for such a shite idea, like building another horrible supermarket in the middle of a green patch, whichever location that green patch is!! should be put somewhere in a corner of this planet where all the terrible waste that they produce goes, and with all the other wrong 'uns that keep doing the same thing. They all should have a veggie patch and try to be green for once!! We only have ONE PLANET, I wonder what they all will do when it has been concreted... where will they go? to a place called Wrong'un Land? Can you imagine what that place would be like?
Freespiritipa

187: I grew up in Wimborne and still come back regularly. As much as I think that Wimbrone would benefit from Waitrose I do think that they should choose a more appropriate site as it would be disaster if Wimborne lost its iconic beauty spot to concrete. Lessons are to be learnt from the Imax building in Bourmenouth ruining the sea view. I strongly oppose the building of Waitrose on the cricket ground but encourage them to look for an alternative site in Wimborne.
Melisa

186: NOooooooo!!!
Joanna

185: I feel that the proposal to build a supemarket on our cricket pitch is an absolute disgrace. The cricket pitch is a defining feature of Wimborne - how anyone can justify the first thing people see when driving into Wimborne being a supermarket I cannot understand.
Joanne

184: How can it even be considered? What exactly will another supermarket achieve? More traffic? More congestion? Oh, and sorry, but what about the history behind the pitch? Wimborne is beautiful, and once something like this happens it will create a knock on effect, and then, in time it will just become another scabby town. Leaving it how it is will ensure there will be revenue from visitors for a long time to come. Don't lose it forever, because there wont be any room for turning back. Think about it, and sort yourselves out!!!
Ben

183: Keep Wimborne Green! Do we really need another supermarket? Does it need to be on the lovely cricket pitch? No and no. Such a proposal would destroy a beautiful and picturesque space, the main green space left in Wimborne. Wimborne attracts visitors because it is pretty, so we would also be doing no favours to the tourist trade by allowing this to happen. Putting money into the pockets of the conglomerates and taking it away from the community. Should we not instead be regenerating local independent businesses so that there is no longer enough demand for another supermarket because people are spending money on local produce in local shops. Say yes to saying no!
Josh

182. I object to the future planning on green belt in Corfe Mullen, the area in which I live but I am only a stones throw from Wimborne which, although busy with cars taking the kids to school in the morning, I cannot stand the thought of the delivery lorries to Waitrose belching out their fumes and rumbling past the lovely houses overlooking the pitch. Keep it a green and allow all to enjoy it!
Sue

181: No way! Its completely ridiculous.....surely all parties can see this??
Sarah

180:Our town is full of character & tradition which makes it a great place to live. I fear having another retail giant built in Wimborne will remove another chunk of individuality, steering our town closer to the generic, souless ghost towns that dominate this country.
Boo

179: This were our lovely town gets converted into just any other grey town that might as well be a suburb of London. if we are not careful! I understand, that the town needs to grow financially, but a line has to be drawn somewhere...where next..the Minster green!? Waitrose should go build it somewhere else, somewhere that is not so important to the local people. The cricket pitch is like Wimborne's mascot. The Warm welcoming post card picture as you enter the town....
Kaan

178: May I advise talking to those running Streets Meadow, and pointing out how bad the view will be for old folks looking out their window onto concrete and more out of town shoppers. I like waitrose, I want one, but not at the cost of the cricket pitch.
Rod

177: It is absurd to think that the welcoming site of the cricket green could ever be replaced by a car park! This can never happen!
Simon

176: We don't want Waitrose full stop. We have Somerfield so why would we need another large supermarket? We need to keep this green, green! If the cricketers really want to get shot of the land, then turn it into a park with a small children's playground on it! At least that will keep in line with the surroundings & won't become an eyesore.
Karen

175: As if Prescott concreting over cricket pitches for housing wasn't enough. Here we have local people doing it themselves! Do they have no respect for the area they come from?
Alex

174: Keep the green cricket pitch, we don't want another concrete monstrosity.
Amy

173: Waitrose came down to Wimborne, they were looking for a pitch to steal.
The club was in a bind, 'cause the lease expired, and would want to make a deal.
The local knight, thought it right, to give a chance to bid. "11 million quid!, thats what you'll give?" and he danced a merry jig.
Waitrose gave an exhibition to show what they'd do to the ground, Johnny came to town that day and took a look around.
When Waitrose finished, Johnny said, "Well, you're pretty good, old son, but sit down in that chair right there and let me show you how it's done."
"We don't need another giant shop in our town! We don't want your big business and we won't bow down!
We want it vacated and centrally located, because we like to have the green around!"
Johhny spoke to all the folk to see who felt that same, he passed around a sheet of paper on which to write their name.
Waitrose bowed their heads because they knew that they'd been beat. All the names were written on those petitions, collected in the street.
Johnny said, "Waitrose, just come on back if you ever want to try again. 'cause I told you once, you son of a witch, we're Keeping Wimborne Green!".
Johnny

172: It's all just wrong!
Lois

171: Waitrose is planning a similar super-eyesore to take over the car parks, playing fields and community centre in Crewkerne. Concerned people here support you in your campaign - please support us in the fight to save our town!
Gary

170: Preventing this vandalism to our beautiful town is so important as when it is done it can never be undone. The cricket pitch is precious green space and is a large part of the charm of Wimborne as well as being so useful to the town . There must be a better answer to providing Wimborne with a better supermarket . The people who want to do this are philistines !
Clare

169:Though we now live in Spain, we love Wimborne and visit regularly. We are also fans of Waitrose, but NOT if they go ahead with this outrageous proposal.
William

168:Although we would like a Waitrose in our town, the cricket pitch is not the place! The existing Somerfield/Boots/WH Smith complex would be a good place, and probably vastly improve the existing development at the same time. The increase in traffic into the town from other nearby villages and towns, including Poole, would cause congestion around Wimborne. People from out of town visiting the proposed supermarket sited on the cricket ground are unlikely to visit the town shops. The town's shops would suffer from lack of business by local people using Waitrose, and would eventually close. Poole lower High Street is a good example of the effect of a supermarket on the edge of a town (Asda), has on local businesses. There are currently 10 empty shops in the High street. If the supermarket is in the town as Sainsburys is, the overall effect is less and could bring more business into the town. We need green space in our towns, how can anyone contemplate destroying such a n asset.
John

167: I am very disgusted that Waitrose has been even allowed to make such an offer. Should Waitrose be built on the cricket ground then Wimborne as it is now will become a thing of the past. Somerfield and local traders will lose business and this will result in a loss of jobs, Waitrose would not consider compensating for the loss of earnings that will arise from this. Yes, it may produce Job prospects but these will be limited. If people lose their jobs through this then it may cause people who have lived in Wimborne all their life to move out which is the last thing anybody would want to do. Another supermarket would also increase: congestion with the traffic, pollution from both noise and car emissions. Wimborne Town council should consider sticking to business from LOCAL traders and LOCAL people, as this is what draws in the tourists and visitors. When people come to Wimborne, what they see is a traditional Dorset, English Town, not a place that is one big shopping centre.
Frances

166:Please lets not build on the cricket pitch, if everyone feels that we should have another supermarket in this town, why not knock Somerfields down and the surrounding shops as these buildings are an eyesore, and most have now been turned into charity shops. These buildings are not in keeping with our beautiful town. We could then keep the green and have it made into a park so that everyone could enjoy it with more trees added and seats by the river, why is there a need to ruin our town further.
Mandy

165: This is so inappropriate and is so wrong. Wimborne is lovely and clean and Waitrose with its car park will destroy its lovely culture and children's past memories and future one's.
Adam

164: I would like to show my total support for keeping the cricket ground. Waitrose should be looking for a more suitable site (not one that takes the heart out of Wimborne). We are trying to protect Corfe Mullen at the moment from the same pressures. Please take a look at our site at www.keepcmgreen.co.uk
Good luck with your campaign.
Jane

163: Firstly, I do not believe creating a second supermarket in Wimborne is in the best interests of the town, from either an economic or social perspective. The people who would benefit the most are firstly: Waitrose, secondly the Hanham's (who must be running very low on cash in order to have to sell such a family legacy), the plethora of people who will have taken back-handers in order to push this along more quickly and thirdly the cricket club will probably benefit in the long run - although it doesn't look like they have been given much option seeing as the lease will expire soon and they will have nowhere else to play.
The 'carrot' of new facilities and a larger 'county level' ground, combined with the 'stick' in the form of 'no cricket ground at all' seems to have worked very nicely indeed for the prospective developers. However, the reality of this deal with the cricket club will be much different i'm sure. In return for their beautifully mature and centrally located ground they will receive a new site that will be far inferior (apart from the new clubhouse) for many years to come. To be honest i don't know that much about preparing cricket wickets and the outfield but i know it takes time and surely the new site will be full of rocks and the wicket will certainly not be to a 'County Level' for some time.
Also, why do we want a County level ground in our small town anyway?? I grew up playing cricket for Wimborne Under 13s - 16s and i have also played for the 3rds and 2nds (never made it into the firsts though). The ground we had was more than adequate in size and ideal for younger or less experienced players to get into the game. Creating a much larger ground is unecessary and will have an associated maintenance cost, the only people who will get the real benefits of the size improvement are Wimborne's 1st eleven as the boundaries will have to be siginificantly reduced for junior matches. It seems to me that having extra cricket facilities are an unneccesary benefit used to lure the cricketers out of what is already a prime spot. I realise that the current clubhouse is falling down and is a danger. It seems to me that this has been used as an excuse to move the entire ground, which again is unnecessary. A new clubhouse could be built through fundraising and a bit of effort on the part of the club's organisers, instead they are taking the easy option.
There are various economic drawbacks with having the supermarket, not least for the local vendors but also for the existing supermarket - Somerfields. These supermarkets will probably enter into some kind of price war, which will be good for consumers in the short-term i suppose, but i dont think the town is big enough to support two food stores of this size. I suppose Waitrose will win in an area as affluent as Wimborne and the Somerfields store will die a death. What will happen then? Another supermarket wouldn't want to open up next to Waitrose as it would already have been proven to be economically unviable. I expect Waitrose would attempt to buy up the land and use the existing parking area to expand the store. This is obviously a worst-case scenario, but one which should be considered. I think the reality of the situation at the moment is that Wimborne residents do not generally like Somerfields, or they don't think Somerfields is good value for money. This is because Somerfields can charge more because the consumer has limited choice in Wimborne. So the real problem here is Somerfields, what would all the 'pro-Waitrose' people say to swapping Somerfields for Waitrose, as a compromise? I would imagine a lot of them would be happy with a swap.
If we changed the situation around so that it was a Waitrose already in Wimborne and a Somerfield that wanted to build on the cricket ground, i reckon a lot of the "pro-Waitrose" people would oppose the development because they would be happy with the Waitrose they already had.
Of course, there will also be environmental issues for local inhabitants as traffic levels will noticeably increased, along with air and noise pollution.
Keep Wimborne Town Green!
Jon

162. Why!!!!!!!!! leave the green space alone. Just look at Safeways/Somerfields. Were will we park if this shop goes ahead? and it will spoil the view from that nice new building they are putting up! I say no, go some were else!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Martin

161. I have been interested in the debate about whether Wimborne would be improved by the development of a Waitrose store, and am against the scheme for a number of reasons, the main one being that, unless small towns begin to revitalise their own retail capacity, local identity and skills will in time be eroded as money is removed from the local economy and put into the coffers of giant retail chains.
It seems that the local council has a duty to prevent this from happening, indeed, its duty is surely to find innovative ways to support the local economy and retailers, to encourage the development of innovative and exciting local retail outlets which put Wimborne on the map, and bring people to our town for its own sake, and not as a pretty town for people to have a cup of tea in after they have done their weekly shop at Waitrose.
As Wimborne draws up its Local Development Framework, I wonder what retail planning goals are being included. It's very laudable to celebrate Wimborne as a Fair Trade Town, but equally important is a rigorous approach to fair trade for our own local retailers.
I would suggest that you bring the current issue of Earthmatters to your colleagues notice (Friends of the Earth magazine) which publishes an article 'My Town is a Super Market' and quotes from the New Economics Foundation's warning that nearly half of UK towns are already 'clone towns. . . a place where the individuality of high street shops has been replaced by a monochrone strip of global and national chains' - resulting in the closure of 50 specialist shops a week (DTI figures). We must avoid this happening further in Wimborne, and the council must develop a plan for diverse and vibrant retailing. Offering concessionary rates for retailers selling local quality produce might be one such idea.
Gill

160:Keep the cricket pitch!!
Andrew

159: i think that the waitrose should be built because there is only one supermarket in wimborne and would be a good edition to the area.my school is having a trip to debate about this
Brad
sic

158: I think that a Waitrose should not be built in Wimborne. Keep Wimborne green!!!!!!
Felice

157:My father was mayor of Wimborne for many years.He would turn in his grave if he knew of this plan.
Janie

156:No to more supermakets. Keep our green. It would spoil such a lovely place to live.
Sue

155: Everyone should stop complang! The cricket ground is happy for the development to happen because they are getting new facilities, equipment, funding and site. The people that do not use the cricket ground for cricket purposes or spectating never use it anyway - it is open to the public for 2 nights a year - the folk festival. And it's not even like and it's not even like they're eliminating the entire green space, they are offering a 2 acre public landscaped garden! STOP COMPLAINING!
Lloyd

154: I should like the area to be retained for cricket. If that is not possible, a park or gardens would be more apppropriate and much appreciated.
Christine

153: I fully support your campaign to stop this development. I love to watch cricket. I hope we don't get stuck with another concrete monstrosity.
Amy

152: Rather than the loss of the cricket pitch the more important concern should be the future of the existing Somerfield site together with the shops in the adjoining precinct. If Waitrose are successful then Somerfields will almost certainly cease trading. Their current stock is, in my opinion, no more expensive than that held by Waitrose in Ringwood, but generally of poorer quality. They can not possibly survive the competition from a neigbouring Waitrose. I believe the shops in this area of Wimborne are already struggling. I understand both Boots and WHSmith are finding trade poor. I am deeply concerned this area of Wimborne could very quickly become vacant. The ideal solution would be for the existing Somerfield, Boots, WHS and adjoining shops to be demolished and a decent Waitrose built on that site. Loss of the cricket pitch is actually quite indignificant compared with a derelict centre.
Andrew

151: I am fighting supermarket expansion in Galashiels which will threaten a historic building and it is important that supermarkets develop in areas to minimise the negative effects on the amenity of the town.
Elliot

150: I don't actually live in Wimborne but I'm a frequent visitor and I would hate to see the character of this lovely market town spoiled by yet another supermarket monstosity. Keep the Town green
Sue

149. Dear Sirs, I would be delighted to see a Waitrose food shop in Wimborne; it would save me driving to Ringwood!
However, I do not like your current proposal. Architecturally, it stands out like a sore thumb, and it certainly does not blend in with Wimborne's existing architecture - apart from with the other modern rubbish with which we have unfortunately been saddled in recent years. People still ask how on earth planning permission was ever granted for such eyesores.
Presumably, the architect you engaged to design it decided that if your new store were to be constructed mainly from glass, people would be able to see through it, and therefore it would have less visual impact. But when did you ever see an empty store? It will have produce, shelves, tills, etc, to say nothing of the odd customer or two. So your 'artist's impression' is more than a little misleading. Yet I note that your spokeswoman Gill Smith has the temerity to accuse the 'Keep Wimborne Town Green' group of misrepresenting your interests by portraying lots of cars in the proposed store's car park! Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!
I'm also highly suspicious about your claim that parking facilities for 230 cars (170 of these underground) are enough. It sounds woefully inadequate to me, and again, I suspect you are misleading people. The public car parks in Wimborne are already under considerable pressure, especially at weekends, so vehicles belonging to people shopping at your new store are likely to further increase this burden if they cannot be parked on-site. If your Ringwood store is anything to go by, your new Wimborne store will be deservedly popular. But the Ringwood store, despite having a reasonable car park of its own, relies heavily on a very large public car park adjacent to the store, which is used by people whenever they find that the Waitrose car park is full - which is frequently the case. So are you suggesting - nay, planning - for your Wimborne store to be significantly less popular than your Ringwood store? If so, I'd be intrigued to know what logic lies behind this 'planning' decision.
In my view, you would be much better off - and you might engage the support of more of the local community - if you were a bit more radical in your planning. How about purchasing ALL the shops in the vicinity - such as those used by Morrisons, Boots and W H Smiths - to say nothing of burger bars and charity shops - knocking the whole lot down, and building a brand new, architecturally sensitive Waitrose store? You would do the entire neighbourhood a service; the existing buildings are an eyesore. Then you could use ALL of your existing new site for car parking, but include lots of trees and shrubs. This would help keep Wimborne town green, increase your capacity to accommodate more people in what I am sure would prove a very popular store, and would almost certainly result in some excellent PR for Waitrose. You could even give deserving causes - such as charity shops - free or cheap leases on the new premises you could build for them. Just think of all that superb 'free' publicity!
Who knows, you might even get 'twitchers', naturalists and environmentalists shopping in your new store, just as soon as the birds and wildlife come to populate all those trees and shrubs in your new car park!
Nick L..

148. I am completely opposed to any proposed development of the cricket field site and includes a supermarket. Keep off - full stop. Once it's developed the situation is irretrievable - if the supermarket company is so keen to try to convince local residents whats good for us - find another site. I have been a resident of Wimborne all of my life and I don't need convincing KEEP OUR OPEN GREEN SPACE.
John

147. It will be terrible if we lose the open space of the cricket ground. It is what makes Wimborne so special.
Britta

146. To the committee Keep up the good work. It is people like you that we need to keep Wimborne a special place.
Richard C.....

145. It is an incredibly objectionable idea, to replace green with more grey, especially when; a, it's unecessary. b, environmemtal concerns are escalating, leading to greater localisation. ie; food stuffs sourced locally, not shipped in. and c, we lose a key distinctive - the green lung!
Richard K...

144. I worry that Wimborne will lose it's unique character and will draw shoppers from already underused local shops. I also wonder how the vicarage garden, which is used for church activities will be affected by the cricket ground. Cricket and religion often both happen on Sundays, cricket supporters often being louder than English Christians! I'd like to know why Waitrose think they can build a 23,000 sq ft store with 230 parking space with access roads and find room for around two acres of public open space (Avon Advertiser Wed, Jan 25). That's even without considering who would want to use it right next to their carparking facilities. Good luck with the campaign and hope we're listened to.
Jackie

143.WE do not require another supermarket. We certainly do not want one on the site of the existing cricket pitch! Town centre shops are already under enough pressure from the excessive rates imposed by East Dorset district council as can be seen by th recent loss of long established bakers and butchers from the Square!
David

142. To many car parks why spoil a beautiful town, and cause significant loss of income to a town.
Martin

141. Although a Waitrose would be handy in Wimborne, it would not be welcomed on the cricket pitch. It's a lot better to see a nice green area with the Minster in the background than a grey supermarket and a car park on a winter's morning coming to school. Why not replace Somerfield with Waitrose?
Matt

140. I fully support your campaign to stop this development. I love watching the cricket on a summers day and I'm not even a cricket fan! There's just a lovely old-fashioned feeling about it and I'm only 32! Good luck...I'm sure people power will win over money! I just hope the council listen to us!
Claire

139. The cricket pitch is an essential part of the character of our town. It must not be lost just for a shop! Waitrose must find somewhere else, or go somewhere else!
Philip

138. One large supermarket in the town is enough.We must protect our green space; the "lung" of the community.
Anthony

137. You have the support of my wife & I. Please let me know when posters/stickers are available and we would also like T-Shirts if you get any.
Tim

136.Brian's basement supermarket idea takes no account of the water table.How about single storey Waitrose with cricket pitch above (unique!)?
Maurice

135. I am completely against the building on the Wimborne cricket pitch as it is such a beautiful, green area and I for one would love to keep it that way. We already have a supermarket (Somerfield) and so I regret to say that I do not see the need for another. I do not want Wimborne to become an ugly built up town and am concerned that this plan to build a Waitrose on the cricket pitch will result in this happening.
Catherine

134. Oldies are resistent to change. Change is inevitable! Waitrose will be such a boost to Wimborne!
John

133. Your artists impression excludes all the bill boards and 'offers' from the super market which will significantly impact on the visual ambience of the area. With so many Supermarkets locally, one more will one clone our villages. If it has to come ask them to excavate the ground, have an underground supermarket and parking, with the village green on top (with the new cricket facilities). Now that's a novel idea and if they are serious about village life; there can be no objection! Money may be a factor but preservation is achieved.
Brian

132. Wimborne is a market town with a high national profile, (voted one of the top 10 places to live in the UK - Daily Telegraph) we don't want to become a "supermarket" town. We already have a Somerfield which suffices admirably, coupled with plenty of quality local shops (which would suffer) and an enormous market, this means we don't need an additional high street chain in our town. The increased traffic flow and extra roundabout on the already busy road around the cricket pitch would cause delays, safety issues and hinder the emergency services - fire brigade & ambulance station - which are situated at the back of the cricket pitch. I can only see this as a backward step for Wimborne affecting the festival and many other local events and businesses.
Peter

131.This proposal is unacceptable. It will have a significant adverse impact on Wimborne. A supermarket in the proposed area will add traffic problems, safety risks and ruin the overall atmosphere of the town, not to mention the knock-on adverse effects for local business and other famous events such as the festival.
Rachel

130. Local Green areas should be kept GREEN in Wimbourne, what is not needed is another Super Market!!!
Mark

129. I am shocked that this proposal has got as far as this, the council should have squashed this on day one. Wimborne does not need another supermarket. Somerfield is fine, we also have Sainsburys up the road. We should be trying to save the green land in towns not remove it to add to the profits of big business. Large parts of Wimborne have been upgraded in terms of their clasification making planning permission more restrictive, i.e. no integral garages is just one element of this. How can the council be focused on keeping the homes in Wimborne true to their origins, yet be willing to allow a folly of a super market to be built on the cricket pitch, which has been their for years. Wimborne can not support two supermarkets, one will fail. If this is built then I believe Somerfield will pull out, the Somerefield space wil then be wasted space. If Waitrose have to some then can they not do a deal with Somerfield.
Liz

128. Wimborne is a beautiful Market town which should be left as it is. The independent shops would die if a further supermarket is built. Leave the cricket ground as it is. If the club need a new club house the council should provide one there, not in some water meadow where people are unlikely to pass, stop and watch a while.
Louise

127. We stopped using Wimborne Town when Safeway left and oddly enough two of our neighbours have done the same. Your un-representative photograph is unfair. If it were Tesco they wouldn't even consult you. Don't let Wimborne die - come on Waitrose!!!
Neil

126. Good luck with the Campaign!. I have lived in 3X for 19yrs. We come into 'town' every Sunday for the market and a browse. occasionally an evening at the cinema. Wimborne does not need a supermarket, there are plenty within driving distance, and I would imagine most supermarket users have access to cars. It is a historic town, preservation of a central cricket ground should be vital. Organise some more events on this green, get Wimborne's villages involved and make people more aware of its importance. There must be loads of events in Wimborne's 800 years that could be celebrated more regularly on the green?
Rob

125. It appears that this e-mail (see below.. no 124) has been sent to KWTG rather than Waitrose for whom it seems to have been intended. We show it because if this is an example of the arguments being deployed in support of the Waitrose proposal then it is insulting to the great majority of Wimborne residents, either for or against the development, who care deeply about their town. And care very much about 'what is best for us'. This Gentlemen seems to believe that the Cricket Ground is a site for drug abuse - something that I have not heard suggested before. But, even if true, which I doubt, the environs of a supermarket are hardly going to discourage such activity and certainly do not provide a reason for building one.
The Chairman, KWTG

124. Dear Sir: Having lived in and out of Wimborne for a quarter century now, I fully endorse Waitrose's plans to move in and build on the cricket ground. There are plenty of 'green' areas about. Do not listen to the Luddites and those small-minded folk opposed to change. They won't shop there anyway; you won't get them out of the market. Labeling it as a quaint 'food shop' in the proposal is to be commended and is sure to make it easier to swallow for the town's many old people. I understand that you plan to go about it in a sensitive manner - again, to be commended - and that this will transform an area of town currently used only by local toughs to shoot-up heroin. When the first bulldozer goes in and tears up that hell, I will be there with bells on. I realise that the people of the town aren't likely to be the primary concern when it comes to big business and thank god for that -- what do they know about what's best for them?. But please, I urge you to build, and quickly. Sincerely,
Andrew W****
Long-time Wimborne resident (see comment no 125 above)

123. Can't believe the current Waitrose design - talk about "put up a parking lot". Have they thought about underground parking - sure would save a lot of land and also be better for the customers in the inclement weather. But maybe they just want to grab all the land. Surely these supermarkets should be built on old industrial/degraded land and not on productive farming or recreational land - after all we have such precious little left!
Deirdre

122. I come to Wimborne to shop every week. What I find particularly attractive about the town are the little shops and the walk alongside the river overlooking the cricket pitch. It would be a disaster if Waitrose was allowed to build there!! Good luck in your campaign.
Wendy

121. The cricket pitch should be preserved at all costs. It is a very important amenity for the people of Wimborne and its loss would be a bitter blow for the community.
Eardley

120. Extensive Corporate and House building is devastating our green field sites. All the areas we once played on , had laughs and memories together are being lost , and there is no turning back once concrete is lost . What a devastating loss this would be. We must not be apathetic , and stand against corporate and development greed. Keep up the good work.
Scottie

119. pleas can some one tell me what use is the cricket feild is to us when it is not in use it has a gate with a lock so people have no thoroughfare to use it . in all the years i have lived in wimborne i have never been on the cricket feild. i think it is a good idea for wimborne as it would give us a choice of where to shop instead of somerfeilds and breing much valued jobs to wimborne
Chris
sic

118. Many thanks for creating and leading this campaign. Over last thirty years, with our neighbours, we've fought unsuccesfully against extension of Market activities in residential area, including erection of the multi-storey car park, and against the Barratts development on the water-meadows (very sharp practice by the District Planning Officer there!) Here we go again. Let's hope that this time there will be sufficient support so that financial benefits for the few won't be allowed to outweigh quality of life for the many. Can Campaign for Protection of Rural England help? We contacted them too late in the day re.the meadows.
John

117. Vandalism of the highest order, this must not be allowed
Mark

116.A very bad idea to build on the green and the Leaze, both should remain green spaces.
Chris

115. I have lived in Wimborne for 22 years, and I honestly feel that having investment of this kind from such a large chain would be of great benefit to the town and to the people. From reading other people's comments, its clear to see that few people have looked at the plans. Waitrose and in turn, The John Lewis Partnership, coming into Wimborne would bring new ideas, new money, and hopefully further investment from other large companies to make this aging town better for the future. Without this investment, the town will die, with many shops already leaving due to the ridiculously high rents.
Anon

114. I lived in Wimborne for over 20 years and think it would be a big mistake to build on the cricket ground part of Wimborne's charm are areas like this, it will do nothing for the town and I cannot believe it is even been considered.
Maria

113. I'm 30. I've played cricket for Wimborne pretty much ever since I can remember and still travel from London to play for the firsts on Saturdays. I thought people might be interested in a player's point of view. First off, I cannot deny that having a new clubhouse in the suggested new location would ensure the club's future, taking away the perpetual uncertainty of short-term leases. But that's about all it brings. For me, one of the wonderful pleasures of Wimborne cricket is when you look up during the quieter periods in the field and see so many and such varied spectators. On a sunny day you can work around the boundary and count quite a few dozen people. I can't remember getting to a hundred on a single count, but sometimes it's close. Some of them come down every week to support the team, some come mainly for a picnic or a few beers, and some are shoppers or tourists who just can't resist taking in the market town cricket game vibe. I just think the town and the club will massively miss this sense of community and will mourn a loss if the club is swept into the background. Clearly Waitrose want to sell their wares to the increasingly wealthy Wimborne residents. Isn't it ironic they may harm the quality of life and end up driving some away?
Ed

112. The Waitrose survey at their exhibition is statistically biased.There were 3 options YES,YES with reservations and NO. To be scientifically acceptable the middle option should have been a neutral one e.g." Dont mind".This makes the survey skewed in favour of the development and shows that Waitrose have a real contempt for local peoples' opinion.
Phil

111. I think it is outrageous that Waitrose would even contemplate building on such a beautiful space and I do not believe for one moment that it will look anything like the picture they have produced. Both of my young children attend the nursery that is directly opposite the cricket pitch which they enjoy greatly. The increased traffic throughout the duration of the build and after would make it virtually impossible for the nursery to remain where it is. Furthermore, I do not believe that Wimborne needs another supermarket. It is a small rural town that is serviced by one small supermarket and a number of small but excellent traders. It would be a shame and a disgrace for Waitrose to bulldoze their way in to such a place. I currently enjoy being able to buy local produce from friendly people who have become friends, Waitrose cannot tell me that they will provide such a service. In this time of food awareness and the move back to Farmer's Markets and the such like , surely we should be fighting to keep such a unique place like Wimborne exactly that, unique!

110. AN HORRENDOUS PROPOSAL,where are the banners,the posters the plaquards,raise your profile.I shall be writing to the press.
GRAEME

109. Would positively welcome a Waitrose store but certainly NOT on suggested cricket field site.Good luck with the campaign.
Terry & Dawn

108. Utterly opposed
Adrian

107. This green site MUST not be lost forever.
Alan

106. GREEN spaces.not GREY carparks !
Pablo

105. Get OUT of sight ! we don't need to see you in our lovely town setting
Elizabeth

104. It will be a very sad day for Wimborne if Waitrose is allowed to build their New Store on our Cricket Field. At the moment during the summer months you can always see people stopping to watch the cricket. The Cricket pitch is part of The Town and it's History. If it's moved out of sight it may just die. Yes we need another Supermarket for choice and competition but why build it right next to the existing supermarket It will cause so many problems with parking and excess traffic in our Historical Town, and what about the view for the residents of Stonleigh and Streets Meadow. Why not build the Supermarket on The Leaze which will help to spread the parking and the traffic. It would save our Historical Cricket Field and keep the view of the town and the minster- much prefered.Surely leaving far less work and disruption for everyone. Thank you.
Jean

103.I and all my friends feel very strongly that this beautiful piece of green should be kept as a valuable part of Wimborne. we feel that a waitrose supermarket will bring a huge amount of unwanted and noisy traffic to the town centre causing congstion and pollution. This development would rip the heart out of Wimborne and spoil the traditional feel of the town.
Angela

102. This proposed development must not happen. I am not opposed to urban, commercial development. However, a balance needs to be kept to ensure that open spaces are protected within an urban area. You can not keep building and building within an urban area, it destroys the social fabric, and removes a very important amenity, not just for the human inhabitants but for wildlife as well. Any proposed development should be kept to existing brownfield sites only and not a vital open space such as this. Wimborne is a town of unique character and a fundemental part of this is the variety of town center traders, including those in the market. The economic balance of these traders, which is often precarious even now, will be put in serious jeopardy. But is this site actually a town green? If not, can steps be taken to formally apply for Town Green status? I don't know enough about it but surely that would prevent any proposed development? The Rights of Way section at County Hall should be able to help with information on that.
Anthony

101. Interesting to read the letter in the Community Magazine from the Vice Chairman of the Cricket Club. I had thought that the main support for the scheme came from the CC. Hopefully, the VC is expressing the views of whole club and not just his own. Sorry to bang on about this but I feel that this could be Waitrose's Achilles Heel.
Don

100. Once gone, the cricket pitch would be gone forever. I am totally opposed to the proposals to be build an unnecessary, unwanted and damaging corporate-clone supermarket on the current cricket pitch site. If Waitrose is absolutely determined to foist itself upon us, it should surely be put behind the model town. This way it will be out of sight, whilst being as close to the Town Centre and every bit (and probably more) accessible to people who would drive or walk to it. As well as being irrepairably damaging to our environment in the short term, I personally also believe that development of another supermarket in the town would increase traffic congestion in and around the town, exacerbate parking problems and would also ultimately push the few remaining independent retailers under, hence also impacting the economy and life of the town in a very negative way into the future.
Julian

99. As suggested by George Sadler,why can't Waitrose build on The Leaze? My Father & family would turn in their graves if it is built on the cricket field - several members were Captain of the cricket team & used to own Millbank etc.
Janet

98. Wimborne is one of the top 10 places to live in England and I want it to stay that way. Destroying this beautiful and much-appreciated open green space for another supermarket would have dire consequences for the character of the town, local traders and the attraction of visitors. I hope the decision-makers will read comments made elsewhere about problems of traffic/pollution/flooding and consider local views (read Ode to a green oasis, comment 65) and act accordingly.
Sue

97. I am totally opposed to the loss of the cricket pitch. A supermarket can go in many places, preferably out of sight! Keep fighting! Well done to the organisers of this site.
Richard

96. The cricket pitch space is a very important part of Wimborne, creating the feel of a country town, not just an extension to the conurbation. The views coming down Roland's Hill and going around the site are integral parts of the town. Why cannot there just be space to visually enjoy. (One just has to look to France to see that there is a pleasure in urban open spaces). The proposed development, apart from being unexciting architecture, removes this totally, leaving a residue of space that cannot be built upon because of the flood plain which will end up as a dogs toilet and rubbish area, eventually being covered over, eliminating the green space all together. This 'parkland' space is plainly a rouse to encourage the granting of planning permission. East Dorset District Council has not yet completed its open space policy as required by the Government. How do we know what sort of open space is required in the town? Under this Government requirement, if the local authority has not done this work, the developer is required to do it. Has this been done? It does bring onto question where the flood plain stops on the site and if the new building is not to be partly within it. The perspective drawing is suspect as the scale creates the illusion of a much larger site and much smaller building. In reality, especially if the fall on the site is taken into consideration, the building will overpower the area. It is disappointing that Waitrose did not have the confidence to show the plans and elevations in details on their website. The car parking is plainly a waste of the site and will create a rather boring area at ground level and a dingy inhospitable semi basement area which could be prone to abuse. Does the semi submerging of the basement parking affect the flood plain again? The roundabout into Park Lane is also suspect, as conveniently the sight lines to the roundabout are obliterated by the title box and could well mean more of the adjacent areas being compromised to give the views required. Waitrose's comment that the development would 'encourage shoppers to support local business' is rather fatuous. If the new cricket pitch is to go onto the Lease site, is this area not part of the old medieval town which should not to be flattened just to be able to play a game on it. The extra traffic will, of course, create its own problems especially with additional roundabouts and delivery vehicles. However, in all probability the development will only steal trade from the rest of the town further accelerating the demise of the interesting mix of shopping that is what a town centre is all about. I cannot really believe that such a small development shopping terms is going to see new shoppers flocking to Wimborne, especially for a second later visit by which time more of the smaller shops will have closed.
Paul

95.These people must be stupid if they think that the idealised picture of their proposed supermarket in a 'park' is going to fool anyone. Supermarkets are very busy places which create a huge amount of activity and traffic. What this amounts to is another piece of urbanisation in our lovely county.
Gary

94. Having lived very near to he site I was appalled to hear of the proposal. I wish to retire to Wimborne and would like to see the green kept in this lovely town. Why have two supermarkets next door to each other. Waitrose is fine but not on the Cricket Ground please.
Diane

93. I am outraged by these proposals as I feel that we do not need a second supermarket in the town; we need all the open spaces we can get for nature; almost all towns have a supermarket but so few have a cricket pitch or other gren, open space, and this contributes so much to the pleasant atmosphere in the town; and I'm not sure what the Friday-night revellers will make of a fairly secluded riverside walk. I don't want to sound like a moany old codger but I'm looking forward to a fight over this matter. Count me in!
Nicky

92. This scheme will cause great traffic problems, especially for Allenview Road. Keep our green spaces.
Malcolm

91. The cricket pitch is part of what people think of, when they think of Wimborne. If the centre of this town were to be replaced by a supermarket the charm will have gone and it will be like every other town.
Danielle

90. Waitrose has no right to build there the green is a part of wimborne's culture and lively hood.
Peter

89. I attended the Waitrose "presentation" and had only one question to ask:- "what will be the access to the new cricket field?" Answer, the lane off King Street past the back of the Model Town. I work in the gardens at the Model Town and pointed out that this access would not support a double flow of traffic. Answer:- there is a 5 metre width of roadway,(disputed), County Highways are happy, if you wish to disagree, take it up with them! Since the main thrust of the Waitrose argument is the benefit for the Cricket Club, Minor Counties standard etc., has anyone commissioned an impact study on the presumably increaed need for parking in Wimborne? There appears to be no information on parking facilities at the new ground and, having experienced problems arising from "one off" (sorry, no pun intended ) parking arrangements for major funerals at the Minster, still query the adequacy of the access.I realise that this is probably an ass about face argument but Waitrose appear to rely on two major benefits to the town,the new cricket field and, as marked on their plan, "probable riverside walk", until the car park needs extension? Good luck.
Don

88. I whole heartedly agee with Mr Atley's letter in the Community Magazine. We should not roll over and let Waitrose ruin our town. If you need a volunteer to stand in front of the first bulldozer then call me.
Christopher

87. Wimborne does not need or want another supermarket. It does want and need the cricket pitch. It is that simple. Ask the people who live there!
David

86. Green areas in towns/cities are precious. They make a town more desirable to tourists and so help the local economy. This space enables better views of the Minster and gives the town character. What's the point of becoming the same as hundreds of other towns ?
Susan

85. Surely with Cricket being a popular sport what with the Ashes win, do we really want to spoil that with an ugly supermarket??? How about something for young and old to do that doesn't cost lots of money.
Sarah

84. I think it is terrible that Waitrose are trying to build on our cricket ground, if they are such a cash rich company why can they not redevelop Somerfield and the surrounding shops - Crown Mead, which are frankly all in decline. They must not be allowed to build on such a lovely, historic site. PLEASE LET ME HELP AS MUCH AS I CAN. Thanks.
Kate

83. Your leaflet says no to building on the Wimborne cricket ground. What alternative use do you propose for the site? So far I have not heard any other constructive suggestions and cannot make up my mind which side to support.
Paivi

82. Dissapointed that according to the Waitrose representative at last weeks presentation most of the people that attended were in favour ! Can this be true.
Gary

81.I am very worried about the car park plans. I am a local business in the quarterjack mews ... just a stones throw from the river. I can't see how this development will not affect the river ... and we may all be at greater flood risk! As a neighbouring business to the cricket pitch ... I have not been asked about my thoughts! It is widly known that Sommerfield does not want to keep their store and boots and whsmiths are suggesting that they want to move. There should be an enforcement from the council that any development should be on the site of these shops ... not our green cricket pitch!!
Mary

80. I visited the Waitrose exhibition on Friday, and asked a question about the feelings of the residents in Park Lane and Rowlands Hill. I was told by a Waitrose employee that they were ALL in favour of the plans. I was surprised because I know of at least one resident who is vehemently against the plans, and I daresay that there are more. When I pursued this point, my time was cut short. I believe Waitrose have knowingly and deliberately lied. Who else have they lied to and what have they said? If they are capable of this now, what will they do if the Planning Application is submitted.
J

79. I attended the Waitrose exhibition and would comment as follows:
1) The position will cause traffic chaos at busy times on the distributor road, especially with the addition of a new roundabout.
2) The development will cause blight to the properties around it and spoil the view of the residents of Streets Meadow.
3) The traffic movements especially the delivery HGV's at all times will add to congestion and noise for local residents including the elderly ones at Streets Meadow.
4) This is a further green area which is being substancially concreted over. Where will the rainwater go that would normally soak through the cricket pitch? It will probably cause someone a flooding problem further downstream.
5) Couldn't Crown Mead be sufficiently redeveloped as a brownfield site to provide the size of supermarket for Waitrose or whoever. There seems to be a waste of space between Boots, Somerfield and the other small shops, most of whom are of the charity variety.
Nick

78. Keep the cricket ground as it is.
Jim

77. Words fail me! I'd suggest everyone looks at the 'Local Traders' link on the lower left of the home page before they go off down the path of assuming that this would be good for the town. If they are in any further doubt, have a look around a supermarket such as Waitrose in Ringwood or Sainsburys in Ferndown and note down the range of goods available. Wimborne retailers of food, drink, petrol, newpapers and magazines, CD's, DVD's, kitchen equipment, electronics and clothes would better review their lease arrangements as I doubt they will be in business for too long after the opening. Take a walk down Poole's sad main high street to get a feel for Wimborne in 10 years should this go ahead. All this, plus the extra traffic and loss of green space add up to an unmitigated disaster which will make Wimborne a mere shadow of it's former self. Residents of Wimborne should object to this in the strongest possible terms, and make extra efforts to support their existing indep endent retailers which give the town so much character.
Robert

76.Keep off the grass!
John

75. I have enjoyed paying rugby and fishing the waters near the cricket pitch since I was at school in the late 1940s. To loose this site with so many memories would be tragic. I will never shop at Waitrose again, wherever they have their shops.
Mike

74. We completely agree with your aims. The so called two acres of green space is just a sweetener,and we still think that smaller outlets in the town will be affected no matter what Waitrose say.
Lindy & David

73. I was born in Wimborne in 1940. I live here today because it has so much character and is DIFFERENT from so many other towns that are dominated by the superstore chains. Lets keep our green spaces green.
Chris

72. Brilliant site! I particularly like the idea regarding keeping the carpark full - if it comes off. The exhibition was lightweight and patronising, with an overwhelming attitude of "Your feudal lord of Wimborne is going to go through with this - so get used to it - you peasants _ he needs the 11 million quid. Beware the artist's impression - stand by the Cricketers' and look at the site plan - the building has been drawn low and distant - it won't be - it will be close and right in your face. Save up for the car parking blocking.
John

71. Its good for waitrose but bad as we lose the brilliant green that everyone adores
Nic

70. Are we to leave our children NO OPEN SPACES in order to satisfy greedy developers. We don't have to agree to line their pockets. Too much land is being built on for our own good. I'm all for keeping Wimborne Green. Do we need TWO supermarkets in the middle of the town? Traffic congestion would result. How about a different site if we must have another supermarket a little way out of town NOT RIGHT IN THE CENTRE. Have they no imagination. The present market site might be a solution!.
Edward

69. Too many supermarkets! - not enough local fayre outlets in the town. How about turning it into an occasional market space? - farmers - fruit & veg - organic growers - crafts - flowers etc - Summer Festival ground? Creative workshops? But then that wouldn't be cricket would it.
Fran

68.The space should be used as a park for families, public events and music concerts if it's no longer going to be a cricket ground. The idea of covering it with concrete is disgusting and an absolute outrage. Still, I'm sure plans will go ahead by process of a generous backhander to the council, as we saw a few years back when the IMAX abomination was constructed in Bournemouth, obstructing views of the sea. Sadly I don't think much gets in the way of determined big business. I'd like to be proved otherwise though.
Daniel


67.So little greenery in Wimborne town centre, it'd be a shame to replace it with this. And the sights and sounds of cricket being played is one we should treasure and not move to a less visible position.
Andy

66.I have said "no" to the Waitrose proposal for the following reasons: a. Their proposed store/warehouse design is not in keeping with other Wimborne buildings. b. Their proposed roundabout would create more congestion on Rowlands Hill Rd not less. c. We need to retain as many not fewer "green" areas in the Town Centre as possible. Also, any voting on this issue must be restricted to Wimborne town residents only. In short, we must have a level playing field in any discussions with EDDC about the pros and cons of this proposal either by your campaign or Waitrose. Finally, perhaps the Campaign should approach the private owners of the cricket ground and ask them not only to provide the Cricket Club with "The Lease" cricket ground but also to lease the current green area to the Town to be turned into a public park (by EDDC or volunteers)as a gesture of goodwill rather than trying to make a fortune from the sale of this treasured "green" space!!
Jeff

65.Ode To A Green Oasis:
Close your eyes and remember me,
A field of green in a human sea,
A quiet space, a pleasant view,
Ask your heart what I meant to you.
I could not speak, not even plea,
Yet there were a few who defended me,
They stood against the crass advance,
Of the corporate body and its fiscal lance.
But fail they did and now the Town
Wears a concrete cloak and a Waitrose crown.
Poison vents from beneath the earth,
And litter shows my current worth.
Lorries, cars and trolleys too,
What was it that I meant to you?
Profits made per metre square,
Or a field of green for all to share?
Rob J.....

64. The nation is too fat already - what the hell do we need another supermarket in Wimborne for anyway? Just eat less.
John

63. Don't believe the artists impressions. They will be used to persuade people as they were for the Safeway development. That was an outrage as the final build was 50% higher than the model exhibited in the Priests House museum so the view of the Minster from Hanham road / Cricket Ground is poor where it could have been enhanced. We were conned. Don't let it happen again. Developers are crafty professional manipulators of public opinion. The cricket club have been bribed - either they support it and get a great new ground or they are out with nothing, so their view is hardly unbiased. If Safeway could be demolished and the whole area sympathetically re-built low rise, maybe some a compromise could be met, but its not likely to happen - Waitrose and Hanhams just want to max their cash. I suspect they may also be doing the old "lesser of two evils" trick and may concede to putting a store on the leaze which if it was their first suggestion would also have been turned down, but public opinion may be softened by it being an alternative to this proposal. Am I cynical in questioning why they put on the exhibition when people are too busy shopping for Christmas to put up a fight?
Phil

62. Bringing another supermarket to the area will kill stone dead most of the small business currently in wimborne town centre, if the council want to get more people into town they should 1. lower rates/rents on the premises they lease to small businesses. 2.lower the car parking fees. Not only that the cricket ground is used and probably has been used for many years for this purpose and therefore can not be built on The only people who will benefit from this are waitrose and all those bent councilors who will be taking a back hander to allow it to be built. I won't shop there and i will encourage other people to boycott the store by setting up a website to do just that. If waitrose want what's best for wimborne, build your store somewhere that doesn't have 3 large super markets within 3 miles of it's centre. we should also make sure their carpark is full up so that no one can park there. If it is built they will regret doing so, don't think we will roll over and take it the local council should start representing those people they were elected to help instead of big corperations. Local councillors take note now, we know your names come election time!!!!
Simon

61. Here's an idea... Why don't each member of the Wimborne Community contribute to buying the land? That way we an all own a piece of history and preserve it forever!!!!! Anyway why does Waitrose have to be built in exactly that location? Is there anywhere else that it can be built? Like on the Somerfield site???
Kerry

60. We need to maintain this central green area in the town. The shops we have are all becoming charity shops so why kill off the rest. Too many people with a vested interest in this scheme (money)
Steve

59. My wife and I and family have lived in and enjoyed Wimborne for over 50 years. This has been where I have worked and earned my living. We love the town but should this proposed development take place then God help Wimborne. Things will change and not for the better. The traffic which at the present is becoming unsustainable will will reach crisis point and quite likely will keep visitors away. The loss of our cricket field to be replaced by concrete bricks and cars is sacrilege and totally unecessary. Have another supermarket but not in town. This proposed development would Wimborne consign to the status of just another town; all character lost.
James

58.I was born in Wimborne and have watched the council allow more and more in the way of new build. Will we leave anything for our next generations or just a concrete sprawl, take a look at where I live now, its more like an area of inner London than the world I grew into ,change yes but at a price for the community and not the developers
Dave

57. Much as I would love to see a Waitrose in Wimborne to lose the cricket ground, that quintessential bit of Englishness, would be a tragedy and not worth the sacrifice. Can't Waitrose go somewhere in the ghastly development where Safeway's and Boots currently reside?
Eileen

56. Vandalism, typical rubbish sceme to so call improve a town which is fine to begin with, remember it at polling day.
Roger H

55.Wimborne is a delightful town and will only be spoilt by a large supermarket (or anything else for that matter) on the only large remaining green space in town. I am not counting Allnebourne School fields in that.
Bob

54. 'We object most strongly to the building of a supermarket on the Wimborne Cricket Field, let us hope that such a horrendous development can be successfully avoided'.
Mr & Mrs G B.......

53. 'What a beautiful pastoral sight it is to drive/walk past the present cricket ground and see the very 'English' game of cricket that is in keeping with this very special market town
Mr & Mrs D J.......

52. 'IF a supermarket is the be built Wimborne will be akin to any other busy town AND what of the extra traffic?' :Mr & Mrs S M.......

51.'Wimborne is such a dear and beautiful town please dont let them spoil it'
Mrs S A G....

50.'I personally knew the late Maud Hanham and her brother Sir Henry Hanham and I feel sure they would never have allowed the Cricket Ground to be developed'
John G.....

49. firstly, let me say, the council aere not going( and no doubt also the hanhams - the owners i believe)to take, i doubt much notice in just opposition to development without any viable alternative, which you no doubt realise. leaving the site as it is is not a viable alternative, unfortunately in the councils eyes, especially i imagine not conservativemembers.my proposition is that the ground be developed into 2 schemes, both needed by the people of wimborne, which i am one. firstly,where the supermarket is planned to be located, due to access there should be an open sided, tent canopied area for individual small stall holders or traders, selling anything from meat( local) to flowers giving wimborne a centrally located proper market at an economic development cost at an affordable rent for small traders/ stall holders secondly, where they plan to locato the car parking for the lucrative out of town, once a week shopper,(th eir key market) there should be a public garden for all the people, so they dont have to solely congregate on the ground outside the church( i am sure the minster would support this proposal) it would be a shame not to take advantage of this opportunity to give wimborne a piece of modern design of national recognition, and offer facilities desperately needed. but this wouldnt be the first time british shortsighted arrogance has squandered a great opportunity. i shall repeat this letter to the planning commitee but knowing what you are all like it will probably be ignored as i am not in the enploy of the council or being paid to make an appraisal
John C...... sic

48. I have lived in Wimborne now for more than thirty years and cannot believe that this town will allow the crass proposal to destroy the island of peace and tranquillity which is the cricket field. I do however think that Wimborne needs a quality retailer, which Waitrose / John Lewis certainly is. We now do most of our shopping in Waitrose, which means driving to Ringwood or Winton. Surely the obvious solution is for Waitrose to purchase the Safeway store from Morrisons? This would mean less money in the pockets of those with a pecuniary interest in this development, but much more benefit to the town and the environment.
D

47.I was disappointed and amazed that Wimborne Cricket Club had already agreed to move to a location behind the model town. This to me is a 'caving in' to the demands of the parties interested in a supermarket being built on the site, the carrot being that the generous landowner will donate land to them. Is this a 'done deal' or could it be reversed? Part of the charm of Wimborne is having the cricket club on the present site. Having lived in the area all my life (I am now aged 60) I recall this cricket field being 'given' to the people of Wimborne by the Hannam Estate. What happened to this promise? It is quite correct that if Waitrose were to build here it would ruin Wimborne Town, the evidence being the experience of other towns where this has already happened. Waitrose have no concerns for Wimborne or any other community, their sole concern is to make money to the exclusion of all else.If this planning is allowed it will obviously be irreversable.
David

46.The Hanham family are selling their field, which is our cricket pitch to make money to send to the next generations of Hamham family who live in AMERICA. Of course they are not bothered by losing our green and pleasant land. They have surely sold their souls to the devil...
Juliet

45.We do not want this monstrosity building. A slightly different slant maybe. As if we don't have enough 'anti social' behaviour in our beautiful town without proposing a car park for all and sundry (boy racers and screeching tyres included) to congregate during 'out of hours'. To say nothing of the delivery lorries trundling up and down Lewens Lane & Rowlands Hill. We have lived here for over 16 years. We were conned by the estimated traffic pollution when the 'road' was pushed through, with the resultant persistant noise and gridlock - don't let it happen again!
David

44.It would be a disaster for Wimborne if the cricket pitch is lost. Once gone it would change the character of Wimborne for ever. We must protect out town!
Richard

43.This green space must be kept in this lovely small town,to invade this space with buildings of this nature would ruin the charactor of this small town.
Carl

42.The cricket pitch was one of the first parts of Wimborne that I saw; and, walking past it regularly, reminds me how nice it is to have such a large patch of green right next to the town centre.
Stephen

41.Surely there must be some other land to build a supermarket on other than the cricket ground. These centres are better served on the outskirts of a town where the traffic doesn't create more problems in the narrow streets of such pretty towns as Wimborne. The trend where I live is to avoid the large superemarkets which have a stranglehold and support all the individual stores which provide better service and a wider choice of products. This way you won't lose those independant stores and have a more viable community.
Deirdre
Peregian Beach, Queensland, Australia

40.What a disaster it would be to destroy the uniqueness of Wimborne.
David

39.I agree with Tony that the semi-vacant, architectural cancer (my words not his) that is Crown Mead should be redeveloped - by Waitrose if they so wish - in a style more in keeping with the town. And leave the cricket pitch alone. Incidentally, please don't expect me to believe that the entirety of the cricket pitch is required by one single supermarket ? Even with parking that'll be one hell of a large supermarket. No, the remainding space will be built on for more shops. So bye bye town centre. You have been warned.
Name not given

38.I moved to Wimborne 8 years ago to get away from the commercialised development of Bournemouth. It is a pleasure to drive into town and see open green spaces. Lets not lose the town's character. I am firmly against the development of any building plans for the cricket pitch especially by the most expensive food store going. Tell them to "get lost" or words to that effect!
Malcolm

37.This site should be kept green in perpetuity
Frederick

36.We would be happy to see Waitrose come to Wimborne - but definitely NOT on the site of the cricket pitch.
Pamela and Gary

35.I fully support your aims. We must preserve the cricket field at at all costs Wimborne is a unique Town. Its beauty must be preserved.
Doreen

34.Wimborne would not be the same without the cricket field. It would be a very sad day if we lost it.
Craig

33.Waitrose is holding a public exhibition at the Community Learning and Resource Centre in King Street between Wednesday, December 7, and Saturday, December 10, to consult and seek comments on their proposals. Waitrose will then do a report to the council as part of any planning application they make which will include a compendium of the responses they receive following this exhibition. It is vitally important that as many people as possible attend and make their views known.
Vicky

32.I feel, like most, that Waitrose would be greeted by the town if they sought to redevelop the existing Crown Meads area. Rumour has it that the main shops of WHSmith and Boots are on very short term leases and they may not renew in the future. The likelihood of renting these large retail outlets to other companies is small and would be even less if a large Waitrose was built on the Cricket ground. The logical answer would be for Waitrose to purchase the existing Somerfield site along with the remainder of Crown Meads and redevelop the land. I think people would accept this proposal and allow a small amount of encrouchmant onto the existing cricket ground to ensure that the existimg ambiance of the town was not lost. I feel this decision is one that is the most important for our towns future and all the efforts of the Town and District Councils should be put in this direction to ensure that the spirit of our lovely town is not lost forever.
Tony

31.We are strongly against any supermarket development of Wimborne Town. Several years ago, we moved away from a town that had been consumed by "destination stores" and will not see the same happen to Wimborne.
Edward

30.I fully support your efforts to stop any building on the cricket pitch
David

29.Is this still an issue? I have only just found this web site. We must keep the cricket field at all costs.
Peter

28.I feel very obliged to comment on such disastrous event. If anyone should think otherwise of building such a disgraceful food place for people who are too lazy to walk a little further to Tescos then please email with your further comments!
Rach

27.Absolutely not. The last thing we need is for the big supermarkets putting the small sole-traders out of business and turning the local cricket pitch and family area into another sprawling concrete eye-sore.
Joanna

26.I do not think that a supermarket should be built on the cricket pitch in Wimborne. It is one of the very few green field sites left in the town, and to build (another!) supermarket and get rid of that would be awful. Understandably people, feel there is a need for another supermarket, but it doesn't have to be built on the criket pitch, why not built it somewhere else?????!
Kathryn

25.Opposed to the building on the cricket pitch
Kevin

24.I fully support your aims and wish you complete success in saving the land at present used for cricket. One point however needs to be understood by all your supporters is that the land is not 'ours' as so many claim. It is privately owned and exists only because the Hannum family have protected it. If they now need to realise the value of their asset that is a reasonalbe course for them to take. What all who wish to preserve it as open space for the benefit of townsfolk, the town council & the people of the town must some how or other seek to purchase it. I compare that land with Central Park New York. It is the very heart of our most special town.
Tony

23.I do object very strongly to Waitrose not only wanting to be in the Wimborne area but the outrageous idea of it being built on our cricket pitch? Wimborne is a quaint, market town full of charm and 'Englishness' The loss of the traditional cricket pitch in such a rural town would not only be a 'crime' but deprive young families of one of the few remaining local traditionals left in this country.Waitrose is already at Ringwood, only a short distance away, Tesco's, Lidl's and Sainsbury's are also within very easy reach of Wimborne with free bus services provided. Leave well alone..!!
Maureen

22.No way should the cricket pitch be built on! That green open space is part of the spirit of Wimborne. And so is the Crown Mead garden, with it's wonderful old apple & pear trees - please don't allow our children's heritage to be sold for a mess of pottage, not even Duchy Original Lentil Soup...
Angie

21.Sheppard's Field has gone where we used to take our children to the fair, Safeways has been built on a central open space in Wimborne. the cricket field is all we have left.
Richard

20.A Supermarket there would be tragic for the town ,the cricket pitch / open area in my opinion is what sets Wimborne aside from other towns.
James

19.Just an idea. Instead of a petition, why not have a pledge to boycott any supermarket on the cricket pitch list? This might undermine the will to develop.
Adrian

18.I came to the area two years ago to be near my family and for the peace and tranquillity of Wimborne. To change the cricket field to traffic and noise because of Waitrose would be sacrilege. This must not happen.
Anne

17.When we left the noise of Heathrow Airport behind in 1989 to look for a quieter and more agreeable place to live we chose Wimborne. One of the many pleasures was that green oasis. After the necessity of visiting the supermarket it was an immense relief to lean on the rail and gaze into the river full of wild life and beyond to the game of cricket. The sound of it and the joy and peace of it all! Don't throw this treasure away. Once it's gone it's gone for ever!
Valerie

16.If the cricket is moving anyway, this is an opportunity to use the present ground for a public park which we could all use, and not just cricket club members. Whatever happens the wildness of the river banks should be enhanced, not "tidied up" and there should be footpaths and cycle paths linking the north and south sides of the town.
Michael

15.No to any building on the cricket ground
Bew'

14.It might be useful to investigate the affect of building the supermarket on water levels in Wimborne centre.A few years ago the town came close to flooding with sandbags in place in several streets,because of high river levels.Any large development next to the river would result in changes to rainfall drainage.
Phil

13.For months now, rumours abound about the supermarket situation. As a local of 29 years and frequent walker down Rowlands hill, the view of The Cricketers, The Minster etc is truly refreshing and uplifting. Every town needs a balance of construction and open spaces and this area along side the river provides the heart and lungs for Wimborne. The cynical in town are saying "It is a done deal" Well I hope not. As an elected member of our society, I urge you to take note of local feeling and do all you can to block this development of our green open space.
Dr C

12.WE ARE ENTITLED TO KNOW!
Since the idea of a Waitrose Supermarket located on the Cricket Ground was mooted in June of last year, we have have heard nothing more of these plans. It was said then that a Planning Application to create a Cricket Pitch on the Leaze would be submitted later in the year to be followed by the main application concerning the Cricket Ground. These 'proposals' have caused great anxiety in Wimborne but now we are in limbo. Has the project been cancelled or what are we going to have to fight. We call upon either Waitrose or, much more appropriately, the Trustees of the Deans Court Estate to advise the town what is happening. We are entitled to know.
Philip

11.I have lived in Wimborne for 12 years and even now marvel at how friendly and pleasant the people of Wimborne are. The town is unique and part of that uniqueness is their lovely cricket green. To lose it would be a tragedy and I know that some of the spirit the good people of Wimborne have would be lost along with it. I am glad this action committee recognises that they have not so much an argument with Waitrose but just the siting. I sincerely hope that the powers at be really think about what they are doing and put the people of Wimborne first and everytime.
Peter

10.Our family are dedicated to keeping this area green
Vicky

9.Re the comments in this weeks Wimborne magazine about deciding what to do with the space after the proposals are defeated - what about a cricket ground? Seems like the preferred use to me.
John

8.My family have lived in Wimborne since 1974 and now read that the town centre cricket pitch is under threat from developers. This beautiful oasis of greenery has already been hacked into along with so many other green breaks around town. Some commercialism and urbanisation is on balance essential but we have to retain this towns luscious centre. Our super market town must not become a supermarket town!
Suzy

7.It seems to me that the future danger could be expressed within the following chronology of earlier and, perhaps, future stages.
1. Rumours circulate over development
2. Objection and anger rage
3. Nothing happens for a while
4. To some degree the opposition becomes muted and a little tired.
5. Waitrose puts in a proposal which does not seem quite as 'bad' as originally feared.
6. That proposal goes through after a diluted protest. THE DETAILS WITHIN THAT PROPOSAL ARE AS WAITROSE INTENDED IN THE FIRST PLACE (in other words the objections had been fully anticipated and manipulated). We must be aware of this danger. My view can be summarized as follows -
a) I don't want a Waitrose where the cricket ground is at present, but I would get used to it quite quickly, BUT -
b) I would not get used to the much-changed road/traffic situation - this may be the strongest component of the anti-argument.
Norman

6.I think it is absolutely outrageous that the powers to be may even consider allowing the cricket pitch to be built on, given that approx £700,000 has been allocated to restore the dry rot filled "national treasure", the Allendale centre (looks like a gypsy encampment with the dissimilar buildings). I think that irreplaceable green open space is easily more valuable to Wimborne.. The old supermarket complex was and is a bad enough eyesore. The way things work in Wimborne baffles me but then I don't know who stands to gain. Perhaps the Lease option should be re-visited for a supermarket.
Dave

5.I have lived in Wimborne for 19 years. To lose the green open heart ie the cricket ground to a supermarket and to suffer the ensuing increase in traffic volume, noise and pollution would destroy part of the charm of Wimborne - its village character. It would become an ordinary place, like Blandford Forum, and who wants that? Wimborne is extraordinary and we should keep it that way.
Jennie

4.Congratulations on setting up a group to oppose building on the cricket field. It would seem that your superimposed picture shows a very rosy view of the possible buildings. It is highly unlikely that any grass would be left around the site.The entrance would need to be large enough for the huge articulated lorries used so a major new junction on Lewen's Lane is inevitable. I am taking photos of the already congested and narrow access roads into Wimborne to demonstrate that the town cannot cope with any traffic increase.
Felicity

3.I chose to live in Wimborne because of its country nature and the beauty of the centre of town. I am happy with a small supermarket and a choice of other suppliers of meat and vegetables. The unspoilt character of the "High Street" and its environs should be preserved as it attracts visitors as customers for all the other varied shopping and business activities. Please continue to inform us on progress of any planning permission applications which could destroy our current delightful abode.
Betty

2. supermarkets so close to each other would be stupid. To build one on the lovely cricket pitch would be an act of cretinous vandalism and would evoke a great outcry of disgust amongst the people of Wimborne! Don't let it happen.
Sarah

1.The cricket field must be retained as a green space. To allow Waitrose (or anyone else's) profit & loss account to be the reason to destroy the heart of Wimborne Minster is unthinkable. Once it is gone - it will be gone forever. Is that the England any of us want?
Ian

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