Trade wars over new DIY store

12:44pm Friday 16th May 2008

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By Emma Tilley »

TRADE wars will erupt in Cirencester when a new DIY superstore and builders merchants open at Love Lane Industrial Estate.

Planning permission was unanimously granted to demolish the abandoned Metric House and build a massive Wickes store which will supply the heavy end of DIY needs such as cement, fencing and bricks.

There will also be a City Plumbing Supplies and a Benchmarx for the plumbing, building and joinery trades.

The entire £5 million development, owned by Travis Perkins, will create around 70 new jobs in the town.

But DIY store Gardiners, based in Dyer Street, has estimated it will lose £1.36m of trade when the new development is built.

The store, which opened in 1979, already suffered huge trade losses when Tesco and Dobbies Garden Centre moved into Cirencester.

Gardiners store director Mike Carr said after the planning meeting on Wednesday: "It is true Wickes cover different ranges but there are cross-overs which would affect our business."

Ashfords Solicitors who represented Gardiners said: "Given the increasing number of vacant units in the town centre and the predicted economic outlook the loss of Gardiners would seriously put at risk the vitality and viability of the town centre."

Cirencester Chamber of Commerce objected to the application on the basis it would drive trade away from the town centre.

Member Jonathan Davies said planning policy should stop Cirencester from becoming a "clone town."

But agent for Travis Perkins Simon Hoare said the Wickes development would claw back trade.

Currently 43 percent of Cirencester customers go to Swindon, Cheltenham or Gloucester because they cannot find what they need in town.

Residents of the nearby Oaklands housing estate are furious their homes will be affected.

Resident Jaqueline Stone told Cotswold District Council's planning committee on Wednesday that the increase in traffic at the Somerford Road/Chesterton Lane junction would be dangerous.

She added: "Oaklands is set in the grounds of a listed Georgian house, carefully planned with local materials and Cotswold styling. Its amenity would be damaged if metal sheds up to 70 metres long and ten metres high are built next to people's homes."

The application was unanimously approved by CDC's planning committee with a list of 22 conditions including that the retail unit will only be used for DIY purposes.

CDC has also asked Travis Perkins for £90,000 towards improving cycle and pedestrian links to the site.