Fears supermarket bid could push Portishead rail link hope into the sidings

By hpickstock heather pickstock h.pickstock

Developers behind plans to build a new supermarket and hotel in Portishead have been told to go back to the drawing board – after concerns were raised the scheme could affect the future of the town's proposed rail link.

Cardiff-based planning consultant DPP submitted plans earlier this year to build a new 25,000sq ft Lidl supermarket and 60-bed Travelodge hotel on land at Harbour Road.

The development would include a section of land which is currently home to the 48-space park-and-ride facility for the proposed Portishead railway link.

As part of the scheme, a new 109- space car park would be created for the store and hotel.

The 48 park and ride spaces would be relocated and included as part of the store car park.

But Portishead Town Council is unhappy at car park element of the scheme and has recommended the application be refused. Councillors said they were concerned that if the park and ride was relocated, the spaces could be swallowed up by shoppers, affecting the future viability of the rail link.

Portishead Town Council planning committee chairman, Councillor Colin Howells, said: "The committee is not against Lidl or a new hotel coming to Portishead, but does not want any development to happen that may compromise the future of the rail link."

Councillors also raised concerns about the exit and entrance to the new store from the already busy Harbour Road.

They also questioned whether a Lidl supermarket was needed in the town in light of the fact that Sainsbury's is also planning to build a new 30,000sq ft store at Serbert Road.

Portishead Railway Group has also raised concerns at the proposals to relocate the park and ride. Railway group chairman, Alan Matthews, said: "We are not objecting to the supermarket plan, but we are concerned about the proposal to incorporate the station car park into the store car park.

"The park-and-ride facility needs to remain completely separate to this scheme.

"There is a risk that if it goes ahead, shoppers will take up the spaces dedicated for the park and ride.

"The 48 allocated spaces need to be for rail passengers only."

A final decision on the store and hotel development will lie in the hands of North Somerset Council.

If the store and supermarket plan gets the green light, it would create 50 new full- and part-time jobs in the town.

A spokesman for DPP said: "We are aware of the council's concerns regarding the park and ride.

"We are in contact with them and are confident that we can resolve these issues."