PLANS to bring an Asda supermarket to Salisbury have been supported by city councillors, but not without areas of concern.

More electric vehicle charging points, the installation of solar panels and a change to speed limits and proposed opening hours were just some of the points and suggestions raised by councillors during a meeting earlier this week.

With new proposals submitted to Wiltshire Council last month, Asda, if approved, wants to bring the supermarket to the Hampton Park Roundabout in Bishopdown, complete with restaurant facilities, a petrol filling station and parking for 323 cars onsite.

Discussing the plans during the planning committee meeting Monday night, August 1, councillors threw support behind the application, but identified some issues and changes they would like to see taken onboard following consultation stage.

READ MORE: New planning application submitted to bring Asda to city

Agreeing a 24-hour service was not necessary in a residential area, the authority suggested the store could be open from 7am until 10pm instead.

Councillors expressed concerns about the impact of extra traffic, caused by supermarket demand, via the narrow road running through Ford and under St Thomas's bridge.

In response to this anticipated increase in traffic, the council requested that the speed limit on London Road, between Aldi and the St Thomas's roundabout, be reduced, in particular to protect children crossing.

Considering environmental impact, the authority requested the installation of solar panels and water recycling.  

Councillors also requested that raised banking or some other measure should be introduced to shield neighbouring houses from light pollution.

Discussing the application at hand, the council called for the provided ecology surveys to be updated, as well as including plans to compensate for the potential impacts on wildlife.

The presence of rare bee orchids on the road verge by the roundabout was also noted, councillors adding this area should be protected.

With more residents switching to electric vehicles in the area, the council is urging the supermarket giant to increase the number of charger points to more than the four offered in the plans.

Finally, the council asked for coin-operated trolleys to be used to reduce nuisance.

Councillor Annie Riddle, who chaired the meeting, said: "Members appreciate that a lot of people will welcome Asda and another petrol station because they feel this will provide competition for existing stores and garages and help keep prices low.

"However, this must not be to the detriment of nearby residents, and we would like to see maximum effort made to protect our environment and our wildlife."

The current application is 'under consultation', which will come to an end on August 18.

This will include the feedback of the city council.

A decision on the development is then set to be announced on September 23.

The city council’s planning committee has called for the application to be decided in Salisbury rather than Trowbridge, where Wiltshire Council is based, due to the strong public interest in the plans locally.

To view the application in full (PL/2022/04875) visit the Wiltshire Council planning website.

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