New Sainsbury’s may yet arrive in north Leamington

Total Bonjour, which owns the petrol station off Rugby Road in Milverton, has appealed a rejection of its plan to demolish the station and build a new foodstore, cash machine and car park. It will now be for a Government inspector to take another look at the plan.

Although it has not yet been confirmed that the store will be a Sainsbury’s, Total Bonjour has said it has “progressed” with talks with the supermarket giant in expectation that it will run the new shop.

The council had received floods of letters from people who live in the area who were against the plan - which had been modified after an initial planning application had been heavily criticised.

Liberal Democrat Warwick District councillor Bill Gifford, who represents Milverton, said the main concern was the impact the new store would have on the Rugby Road shops. He said: “If a Sainsbury’s was to open then people would be concerned that these shops would be forced to close.

“Should the inspector make the wrong decision and accept the appeal, then the best action that people could take would be to ignore that particular Sainsbury’s and use the Rugby Road shops.”

Comments on the appeal can be made online at www.planningportal.gov.uk/pcs no later than January 31.