Greasby campaigners vow they will fight new plans to build a supermarket in car park of Red Cat pub

Dec 21 2011 by Linda Foo Guest, Heswall News

VILLAGE campaigners have vowed to fight new plans to build a supermarket in Greasby.

Pub firm Greene King has submitted a fresh planning application to Wirral Council for retail units in the car park of the Red Cat pub.

They would be used for a Sainsbury’s Local store and a veterinary surgery.

The company – which insists the development would “cement the area firmly at the heart of the community” originally applied for planning permission in April but withdrew the application in the summer.

More than 5,000 furious residents signed a petition against the supermarket plan – saying it would drive trade away from local shops and destroy Greasby’s village atmosphere.

Stephen Lewis, of Steve Lewis Butchers on Greasby Road, told the News:

“The development is going to affect everybody. There will be less footfall in the village – people will drive in and out.

“We do not want it and we do not need it. We have a Co-op already. Then there is a Sainsburys superstore a mile away.

“Our village is unique and vibrant and they want to destroy it.

“When Sainsbury’s in Upton opened it wiped 25% off my shop.”

Simon Collister is a co-owner of Ellie’s Bistro, and is a committee member of Greasby Community Association.

He said: “They withdrew the first application because the council said it wasn’t acceptable, but now it has been resubmitted with very little difference made to it.

“It will affect the whole village and take trade away.

“The way it has been designed it will divert people away from the village.

“The majority of people don’t want it. It needs to fit in with the other shops.”

Campaigners have organised a public meeting to discuss the planning application on at Greasby Community Centre on Wednesday, January 4, starting at 7pm.

Comments on the plans must be submitted to Wirral Council’s planning department by January 11.

The proposals are due to be considered by councillors at a planning committee meeting on January 24.

A spokesman for Greene King said: "We have applied for planning permission to unlock land adjacent to the Red Cat, Greasby, for the development of one retail unit and one veterinary surgery.

“This is an amendment to our previous planning application which was withdrawn to address design changes.

“We believe our investment will help cement the area firmly at the heart of the community, attracting new jobs and providing more amenities for the benefit of local people.”