New Sainsbury Oakham, One of the worse plans likely to be approved by Rutland County Council, Sainsbury no benefit for residents says Oakham Town Council

New Sainsbury Oakham, One of the worse plans likely to be approved by Rutland County Council, Sainsbury no benefit for residents says Oakham Town Council.

This week Oakham Town Council met and one of the items they discussed was the proposal for a new
Sainsbury store at the former Rutland County College site.

The general feeling worse it was the wrong location and Rutland County Council should have approved
the previous application. something the council may have like to do but could not do so for legal reason
not understood by the average Oakham Town Council.

There were issues raised about access.

Cllr Lucas objects for those reasons and the utter devastation of the trees wood suffer. She said Sainsbury Planners did not know what trees  were on site and I agree with her not often, there are some very fine trees that Sainsbury needs to work around.

She also raised the new traffic direction from Cold Overton Road, it is planned by some  crazy person that
that the traffic that backs up to the road when the crossing is down will not be able to cross over the road, but will be forced to turn left and turn back around the proposed new roundabout at the Landsend junction. She said she and others would ignore the area and drive through residential areas to cross at Brook Road to come into town that should please the residents of her ward. She also agreed with Councillor Locketts comments.

Cllr Lockett said this is the worse plan that is likely to ever be proposed by Rutland County Council and Sainsbury is of no benefit to resident!


Cllr Doods she has no issue with the store plans, but was concerned by the serious access issues and ever increasing  congestion at the level crossing. She also raised issues about the delivery drivers who are expected to come out of the store turn right onto Landsend Way and use the proposed roundabout to come back down Lands End Way. She question what is stopping them just turning right and travelling through the Village of Barleythorpe.

Cllr Guthrie agrees with the issues raised about access, he also feels Sainsbury will be detrimental to town centre traders. He also believes Sainsbury will will have no net effect on job creation for the town.


Cllr Woodcock agreed with the access issues raised and Sainsbury  was not the right choice for the town.
She was also concerned for town centre coffee shops as Sainsbury are proposing one in this store.

Mayor Councillor Dewis stood up and pointed to the plans he pointed out the proposed new homes and the increased car ownership and how this could have an impact on traffic in the area.

Of course stating the obvious, what the town councillors  seem to forget as the population increase there becomes a need to increase infrastructure and while RCC does nothing to improve public services the private sector sees the increased population needs to buy food.

Cllr Dewis finished by saying Rutland Council should have approved the previous application which was agreed by the Town Council.

Oakham Town Council will be considering the full planning application at it's planning and parks committee
in two weeks times.

Cllr Lowe and Cllr Nowell made no comments I assume they forgot the predetermination rule has been
scrapped.

Cllr Haworth left the meeting because the law does not permit him to represent his ward because he lives close to the site.

This leaves residents Cllr Lucas who expressed her personal objections. It would be nice to think a Councillor would represent the views of their ward residents. Then history shows Oakham Town Councillor only vote in a way they that suits their own selfish needs forgetting to represent the residents they serve?