Almost half of the residents surveyed on the future of Locks Heath Shopping Centre would like to see a new food store and a swimming pool as well as an extension to the layout of the centre.
Locks Heath Shopping Village
One thousand residents attended four exhibitions held last year consulting on options for the redevelopment of the centre – which included a five-lane swimming pool, a new supermarket and community and leisure facilities.
Colin Mitchell, project manager for the consultation, told residents at the Western Wards Community Action Team meeting that “no firm proposals” were yet in place and that the options were only “preliminary thoughts”.
The consultation revealed that 49.4 per cent of people were in favour of a development of the whole district centre with a new food store and a swimming pool and to increase the footprint of the current site; 40.3 per cent were against and 10.3 per cent did not mind.
Among the views expressed in favour of redevelopment were that the centre “desperately needs revitalising”, it would decrease people’s travelling and keep “expenditure in the local area”, said Mr Mitchell. But those against said in the survey they were “happy with the centre as it is” and that it currently had a “wonderful local feel”.
Mr Mitchell said the council had embarked on a project for the future of the centre because 71 per cent of the food being bought by residents was from outside the Locks Heath area and a swimming pool had been sought after in the Western Wards for decades.
There were 354 survey forms returned to the council, as well as 26 letters and emails from residents and six responses from interested organisations.
As part of the proposals 320 new car parking spaces would be added to the 493 currently at the venue – an increase of around 60 per cent.
Residents were reminded that The Co-operative supermarket has around 960 years left of a 999-year lease to continue trading in Locks Heath, but Mr Mitchell said 56.3 per cent of residents surveyed said the centre would benefit from a new food store.
Residents at the meeting said they needed to know which supermarket operator could potentially move into Locks Heath.
One resident said: “The Co-op is too expensive so residents go elsewhere.
“But if the council goes ahead and goes through all the planning and finds a new supermarket that is more expensive than the Co-op, there will be little or no financial gain for the residents. We want to know what supermarket will be there.”
Fareham Council leader Councillor Sean Woodward said options could include Tesco, Morrisons, Waitrose or other similar retailers but that the plans were at too early a stage for any decisions.
“Our consultation prompted the Co-op to wake up,” he said. “I’ve met with the Co-op on many occasions and they agreed with me that they either need to shape up or sell up.”
When asked whether the council would pay for a new swimming pool Cllr Woodward said: “It could cost about £5m to build a swimming pool.
“Fareham council can pay for it itself but we would prefer a partnership with a private company who would set up a leisure facility, private health club and have a public swimming pool.”
A report on the consultation will be made to Fareham Council’s Executive on April 15.
In the late spring/early summer the Secretary of State will be informed and will appoint an inspector to examine the plans in late autumn. The inspector will produce a report in early 2014, which could then be adopted by the council.
Below are the results from Fareham Borough Council’s consultation. The survey included the following questions with the following results.
Are you in favour of development of whole site to allow provision of new food store and swimming pool leisure facility?
49.4% Yes
40.3% No
10.3% Don’t Mind
Where would you prefer replacement open space to be located?
63.1% As close to district centre as possible
16.2% Elsewhere in Locks Heath
13.1% Don’t mind
7.6% Not concerned about loss of open space
The District Centre will benefit from a new food store
56.3% Agree
43.7% Disagree
The District Centre is a good place for a new swimming pool.
66.8% Agree
33.2% Disagree
It is a good idea to locate the swimming pool, library and community facilities together
59.6% Agree
40.4% Disagree
What is your preferred location for a new food store?
41.4% North of existing Co-op building
12.6% North of main car park
46% Don’t mind
Is a raised food store a good idea?
27.4% Good idea
45.3% Bad idea
17.3% Neither good or bad
What is your preferred location for a new swimming pool?
19.9% Eastern end of new car park
29.4% On existing car park by petrol station
21.9% On southern end of existing car park by the pub
28.8% Don’t mind