Noise, safety and car parking issues raised over new Co-op

Subject to planning approval, the Jersey Farmers Trading Union’s Town and Country site on Queen’s Road will be transformed into a supermarket with six petrol pumps and 28 parking spaces. If the plans are approved, it will be the third En Route store the society has opened.

The Co-op has said that if the plans are approved, work to redevelop the 3,500 sq ft site will not start until 12 months later to allow JFTU time to complete their own relocation.

Since plans were submitted to the Planning Department a number of Islanders have raised concerns about the amount of traffic the opening of the new supermarket would generate.

Philip Johnson, who lives near the site, said he has no objections to the shop space and believes a modern retail outlet would benefit the area.

However, he described the proposed parking layout as ‘very poor.’

Commenting on the planning application, he said: ‘The current shop is regularly used by vans, trucks and large 4×4 cars, but the layout and the size of the parking spaces is very restrictive and uses a narrower than recommended parking width for many UK areas. There is little turning space in the top end of the car park and for the places in front of the shop.

‘Using the current JFTU car park is difficult enough and currently people only park on two sides not four. I think the parking layout is very poor.’

He also asked for a number of traffic improvements to be considered including where possible to have pavements on both sides of the road and the introduction of a 20 mph speed limit in the area.

Mark Beer said that the introduction of the Co-op would lead to ‘increased noise and light pollution’ due to longer opening hours than the current hours operated by the JFTU and early morning deliveries.

He said: ‘At present we live in a very quiet peaceful country location as although the JFTU is a retail unit it is of a different type.

‘The proposed site for bin storage is right next to the shared-access road, which increases potential for nasty smells within that area. There is also concern regarding noise from generators and air conditioning units on the premises.’

A comment submitted by Mr M Lincoln, said that he ‘welcomed’ the plans although said the safety of bus users in the area must be given priority.

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