New site earmarked for city supermarket (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

New site earmarked for city supermarket

8:32am Wednesday 23rd April 2008 in News By Emma Clark

THE threatened Pioneer site in St Albans could soon be home to a supermarket, we can reveal.

Outraged residents are calling for answers over the uncertain future of the site off Heathlands Drive, owned by Hertfordshire County Council and currently home to the Pioneer Youth Club, St Albans Judo Club and the ambulance station.

Last year the council was granted outline planning permission for a housing development on the site and adjacent grassland, with plans to retain the youth club.

But as talk of a multi-million pound youth centre at Westminster Lodge increases, the county council has hinted that plans to retain the youth club could collapse.

St Albans District Council has since named the site as one of three possible locations for a large retail outlet.

Peter Cook, of Heath Farm Lane, chairman of the Friends of Bernards Heath, who lives in Heath Farm Lane, said: "We are gearing up for a campaign if it is necessary.

"The county council cannot tell us what is going on - the plans are bring driven by officials who feel no need to share their ideas with the public and we need to bring this to people's attention.

"Our members are absolutely appalled that they are even thinking of putting a retail unit there.

"We accept that there must be some development, but it is a question of the right development and keeping these valuable community facilities.

"The reason we exist is because everyone knows that Bernards Heath is a fantastic facility to have in an urban place.

"It's a wonderful area and we deserve to know what the plans for it are."

The judo club says it is also "increasingly concerned" over its future with Hertfordshire County Council yet to reveal if its lease will be renewed next year.

St Albans district councillor Roma Mills said: "These residents want to know where they stand, we need a response from Hertfordshire County Council. We're all playing a waiting game.

"The Friends of Bernards Heath are being very proactive and sensible. We have to keep this item on the agenda. We don't want a repeat of what happened to the Jubilee Centre - where all of a sudden it was gone."

St Albans District Council spokesman Firhan Malik confirmed that the site had been identified as one of three for a food store and a decision is expected early next year.

Hertfordshire County Council spokesman Tom Shipp said: "We are still in the process of establishing the feasibility of individual re-provision schemes.

"We are in discussions with representatives of the district council, ambulance trust, the Pioneer Club and the judo club."