Old River Lane: Waitrose fears as Bishop's Stortford Town Council ponders Causeway redevelopment plan
The future of Waitrose supermarket in Bishop’s Stortford has been called into question by town councillors concerned about redevelopment of the Causeway area.
Members of the town council's planning and development committee were considering their response to East Herts Council's draft Old River Lane supplementary planning document (SPD), which is the subject of public consultation until Tuesday August 2.
The draft outlines the district council’s vision for the site and will guide development partner Cityheart’s ultimate planning application.
The scheme is set to include an arts centre with a public square as part of a mixed development of around 150 new homes, retail and other commercial spaces.
The district council has already closed its Causeway and Charringtons car parks to the public in advance of building working, with shoppers and town centre workers expected to use the newly-opened multi-storey car park (MSCP) at Northgate End instead.
In its answers to frequently asked questions about its Old River Lane proposals, the East Herts Council website is clear: “Waitrose car park (which Waitrose operate separately) will not move.”
Nevertheless, the minutes of the Old River Lane delivery board indicate that there have been months of negotiations between the council, Cityheart and Waitrose about parking provision and a new entrance and exit.
And when considering the constraints and opportunities for the site, the SPD raises the prospect of “reproviding” 170 spaces for the supermarket chain and says: “This requirement and how this provision is configured will have implications for the proposals.”
According to the document, reprovision would allow “active frontages along Link Road” and “extend the retail heart of the town centre”.
However, Cllr Bob Taylor said at the town council planning and development committee meeting: “I cannot see Waitrose giving up that car parking space because the customers that use it are able to walk straight out onto the car park and then into their cars.”
He suggested it would be impossible for shoppers to safely wheel trolleys full of groceries across the road to the new MSCP, even with new access.
Former mayor Cllr Keith Warnell said that while there were some positive suggestions in the SPD – including making North Street more pedestrian-friendly with wider footpaths, planting, seating and a 20mph speed limit – he feared shoppers struggling to cross to the new MSCP would cause congestion as traffic is required to queue.
The SPD also suggests creation of a one-way system involving High Street, North Street and Bells Hill, complementing the existing one-way operation on Potter Street, Market Square and Bridge Street.
“I just see traffic problems occurring,” said Cllr Warnell.
Cllr Taylor went further: “If that [loss of the car park] were to happen, Waitrose could end up closing and we would lose the store and a major employer.”
Waitrose has been asked to comment on any agreement it has reached with East Herts Council about the future of its car park.
A spokeswoman for East Herts Council said that discussions with Waitrose were continuing. But she said: "The planned redevelopment of Old River Lane will not move or affect how people use the Waitrose car park.
“We are looking at potentially changing its shape by reconfiguring some parking spaces, but they would stay in the same area, outside the front of the store, so that Waitrose customers can continue to use the car park as they do now."
The town council planning committee members will submit individual comments as part of the SPD consultation.
* The deadline for comments is Tuesday August 2. Visit the council's consultation portal or fill in a comment form.