By Andrew Topping, Local Democracy Reporter
A decision on whether a Heron Foods shop will be built in the car park of an existing Tesco convenience store is expected to be made later this month.
Newark and Sherwood District Council was due to discuss the plans, in Rainworth, at its planning committee meeting on July 6.
However, the item was not debated and was instead delayed for discussion until the next meeting on August 10.
In both meetings, council officers were recommending to councillors that they should give the plans the go-ahead.
If approved, the new Heron Foods store would be situated in part of the car park currently used by Tesco Express, at the corner of Kirklington Road and Southwell Road East.
The Tesco store has been in this location for several years after taking over the ground floor from the disused former Robin Hood pub.
Plans say new pedestrian access off Kirklington Road would be formed by repurposing the old vehicle access to the former pub car park.
The applicant would provide 15 spaces which, when added to the existing Tesco spaces, would provide 31 spaces overall to serve the two stores.
But this is still 17 spaces short of the recommended amount for two food retail stores, plans say.
And Councillor Claire Penny (Lab), who represents the area on the authority, raised concerns with the plans and said she fears for pedestrian safety.
In an official objection, she said: “Pedestrians use this site as a cut-through.
“An additional retail unit with more cars will create more danger for pedestrians due to the rise in cars accessing the car park from either entrance.”
She also raised concerns about delivery vehicles currently having issues accessing the car park at certain times and “an additional retail unit will exacerbate this issue”.
She added there is a children’s centre and park opposite the proposed site entrance and other stores are already based in the village.
“An additional retail unit with more cars will put children at greater risk.
There are currently three supermarkets located close to the site and residents do not want another retail store”, she said.
Rainworth Parish Council has also objected and raised concerns over pedestrian safety within the car park, lack of space to manoeuvre delivery vehicles and the safety of children on Kirklington Road.
But council officers said: “Overall, it is considered that the proposed car park would be no more unsafe than any other retail car park where pedestrians and vehicles mix.”
The council report added: “The proposed development is acceptable and would enhance retail provision within the centre of Rainworth to serve its growing population.
“While there is an overall parking shortfall, Nottinghamshire County Council highways does not consider the development would result in harm to highway safety, not creating new, or exacerbating existing on-street parking problems, nor materially increase other traffic problems.
“It is therefore recommended that this application is approved subject to the conditions outlined below.”
