NEARBY residents have objected to a Warrington supermarket’s proposed “click and collect” service.
The proposal at theAsda supermarket at Westbrook aims to offer customers an alternative to online shopping, where goods are ordered online and then delivered to the customer’s home.
It involves construction of a 4.1 metre high canopy on the existing car park where customers would drive to collect goods previously ordered and packaged.
Twelve parking spaces would be lost – but the facility would be on an under-used of the car park.
The plan is to be put to the borough council’s planning committee next week.
Local councillor Keith Gleave (pictured) has objected and believes the development will result in a loss of residential amenity, an increase in effective retail selling space and the loss of parking spaces.
Nearby residents say the illuminated canopy will be out of keeping with the area, having an adverse effect on residential amenity.
They claim the site is inappropriate because it is close to a tight junction and accuse the supermarket of “creeping development.”
Officers are recommending the plan be approved, however.
They admit there is no evidence to suggest that “click and collect” shopping will result in either higher or lower traffic levels.However, if the scheme is successful it could reduce demand for car parking on the site.
Officers argue that the scheme will have no discernible impact on local living conditions given its location and it limited hours of operation – 8am to 8pm.
Residents oppose click and collect shopping
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
5 Comments
Luddites.
I would have thought this would mean that there would be fewer spaces needed as click and collect people won’t need to leave their cars in the car park while they go in the store for 30 mins to an hour each time. Isn’t it a bit like saying a drive through wastes parking spaces in a McDonalds?
Typical case of a councillor trying to justify his existence.without giving thought to the perceived problem. Nice pic tho.’
Very good comparison Paul
Loads of stores do click and collect. It saves time and wasted journeys. I always use the one at Argos, B&Q and Tesco and you don’t even have to pay at the first two until you get there to pick up. Guess that’s probably not the same as food clicking though. I think Asda’s idea sounds like a really good one as I’ve never used their online clicking for food deliveries as I hate being tied to times where I have to be in at home but picking it all up ready picked and packed at the store sounds quick and easy 🙂 Surely the loss of 12 parking spaces is hardly anything to worry about as the car park’s never full anyway. And a BUGGER plus for the likes of me would be I’d sit at home clicking on what I needed rather than wandering around the whole store with a trolly and coming home with a whole host of other things that I hadn’t gone for OOPS ! I hope Morrison’s near here follow in Asda’s footsteps if they get approval as they’ve got space to do it too 🙂 I’m not sure the councillors objections are very strong, meaningful or well thought out to be honest, nor are the residents objections considering Asda say the collection point will ONLY be open from 8am to 8pm…… so no glaring lights at bedtime… and of course Asda is already open and illuminated for 24 hours a day and other stores around there are illuminated and open until late too. The only downside I can see is that by not shopping yourself you can’t root to the back of the shelves to get the fresh foods with a longer ‘eat by’ date 😉