Cautious support but worried over traffic

Like the other Grove Street residents in last week’s Postbag, we were shocked at the initial announcement of the proposal for a Waitrose store at the end of our road. Now that we have seen the outline plans, we are to some extent reassured, but there are several serious issues that they raise. First, should the fire station move? We have always assumed it would at some stage, as its location is less than ideal for its efficient operation, and we would support its relocation in principle.

What kind of development is appropriate on the site? There is a case for offices and/or residential units, as exist on the other three corners of the Warwick Street/Dale Street junction: allowing a retail development would create a precedent for extending the limits of the central retail zone, and we question the wisdom of such a relaxation of the current zoning.

If a retail development is to be allowed, we are not alone among Grove Street residents to prefer Waitrose over other alternatives.

Whatever the fate of the site, a major issue is the effect on parking and traffic movements in the area.

Over the last ten years, residents of Grove Street have supported the council’s aims to halt the slide into multiple occupancy and restore the family ethos. We have complied with both the letter and the spirit of the conservation area and listed building restrictions at considerable expense, and have achieved the transition into a truly residential street. We now have many families with new babies and children of primary school age. Traffic cutting through to avoid the traffic lights on Dale Street is already a problem for residents.

Overall, if retail development is to be allowed on the fire station site, we and others cautiously support the Waitrose proposal as presented at the Royal Priors display, and look forward to contributing the detail decisions on traffic and parking that will inevitably follow. - Jack and Barbara Ingram, Grove Street, Leamington .