HOUSEHOLDERS in the Stoney Lane area of Weeke have received invitations to see how a proposed new Waitrose would impact on their lives.

A public exhibition is due to open tomorrow (Friday), which will show where the supermarket could be built, alongside five retail units, nine appartments, a healthcare centre, and 187 underground car parking spaces, which would also be used by non-Waitrose shoppers.

Building would take place on land used by the former filling station and Honda dealership in Stockbridge Road. Road access would be off Stockbridge Road.

Eight hundred and fifty residents have been invited to attend St Barnabas Church Hall, in Fromond Road, between 1.30pm and 8pm, to see the plans.

The glossy leaflets distributed show a diagram of how the proposed site might look.

The leaflet explains the ideas for a "light contemporary design which reflects the surrounding buildings and also gives a fresh and modern look to the local shopping area".

A spokesman for Green Issues Communications -- which acts on behalf of developers -- said it wanted to make sure residents in the immediate area were satisfied with proposals before inviting further comment.

An official planning application would then follow, if agreed.

But Eileen Berry, councillor for St Barnabas Ward, said she was not convinced the scheme would benefit people in Weeke.

She said: "It's a very big development. Stoney Lane is going to be mayhem, it's going to be a jungle of cars.

"I don't think it has been thought out."

She believes the knock-on effects from the development could be felt as far away as Stockbridge and South Wonston.

She added: "There will be some winners and some losers, but the people who live here will be the biggest losers."

She thought there was a greater need for a dentist, a surgery and a pub.

Resident Ruth Harrison, from Trussell Crescent, said: "What is it going to be like for people who can't park here at the moment? We are adequately served by the shops here already."

But Robert Wyatt, 68, from Fromond Road, said he was in favour of it.

Fromond Road neighbour Pamela Skeen, and Julie Willis, from Stoney Lane, agreed the proposal was a good idea.

Other residents who had received invitations to the exhibition said they were pleased they had been kept aware and up-to-date about progress.

A spokesman for the development, added: "This is a great opportunity to improve the range of shops and products in the Weeke local centre by developing a brownfield site.

"A wider range of services will be offered, which will retain shoppers in the centre of Weeke, and this will help to secure the future of the parade.

"We have the ability to reinforce the existing local shopping centre by providing new facilities in attractive buildings."

A spokesman for Alan Day Honda, said if the plans go ahead, the dealership hoped to relocate to the Heritage Park site in Winnall.

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