Tesco plans new village store
SUPERMARKET giant Tesco has announced plans to build a new store in Lakenheath which could create up to 150 new jobs.
Details of the proposals for the new branch, which would be in the High Street site currently occupied by Matthews Florist and Garden Centre, were released earlier this week.
It is understoood the garden centre shop will be kept as part of the new plan and leased out to another business, while a number of houses could also be built on the High Street site.
Nick Gellatly, spokesman for Tesco, said: " We are proposing a community-sized store focused on food shopping which will be slightly larger than the existing store in Brandon.
"Many shoppers from Lakenheath and Eriswell travel quite a distance for their shopping I hope they will welcome a store in a much more convenient location."
"We want to discuss our plans with as many people as possible and encourage anyone with interest to get in touch.
"I am looking forward to hearing their views at our exhibition in March."
The new supermarket will also employ a community champion, who would work closely with local groups and help with fundraising projects and would use a range of energy-efficient appliances and other green technologies including a rainwater harvesting system.
Should the plans get the go-ahead, one of the village's longest serving shops will close. It opened in 1974.
James Matthews, manager of Matthews Florist and Garden Centre, said: "With the recent down turn and the recession things have become tough for small village stores it was not to hard a decision to make.
We don't see the same number of people through the front doors anymore as most people who live in the village shop elsewhere. There is no closing date at the minute as it all depends if the plans are successful."
Plans for the proposed new store will be displayed at a public exhibition at Lakenheath Village Hall on Friday, March 12 between 4pm and 7pm and Saturday, March 13 from 10 am to 4pm, which is open to everyone.
It is expected that the planning application will be submitted to Forest Heath District Council following the exhibition later in the year.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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