By Controversial Co-op given green light to take over former church site
A former Roman Catholic Church will be renovated into a new Co-op store and funeral care as councillors give the plans the go-ahead.
St John Catholic Church on Waltham Road closed over five years ago becoming dormant and overgrown to a lack of investment.
The controversial plans were approved as councillors said it would give residents in Scartho more choice and introduce 20 new jobs to the area.
Over 100 complaints were submitted on the council’s planning portal objecting to the plans on the grounds that traffic in the area would increase.
One such objection stated: “I 100% object with this application. The proposed application would be at the rear of my property which is relatively quiet most of the time. With the increase of foot traffic along the entry to the rear of my house, also the noise of lorries loading etc and general vehicles from customers.
“This application would alter my current lifestyle and relaxed environment. We already have
convenience shops a few hundred yards down the road. And I certainly do not want to wake up in
the morning seeing coffins being carried back and forth from my bedroom window.”
However, Highways Officers stated that the majority of trips to the store will be “pass-by” trips and that the funeral services have demonstrated that it will not see a significant amount of trips on a daily basis
They added: “The Highway Authority is content with the number of parking spaces shown on the site plans for those customers visiting the developments. In conclusion, the Highway Authority is content that the proposals put forward will not have a severe impact on the adjoining adopted highway network. Conditions in relation to construction management and access works recommended.”
Store Development Manager Matt Wilkinson said the existing store on Coniston Avenue in Scartho operates successfully and will continue to do so as his firm now has a legal agreement for it to remain open to make it a condition for approval of the new Co-op.
He added that his firm had served communities across Lincolnshire for 160 years and supported many local good causes.
Despite the widespread objection, some have approved of the plans and what it will bring to the local area.
One person wrote: “: We appreciate that we are the voice of the local minority in favour of this proposal. Our view is that the site is derelict and is becoming an eyesore. Vandalism will follow. Yes, it would be
great if this were to be a park or a public amenity but that’s not going to happen as the library is
now the hub despite having no parking like this building and fewer facilities than this building.
“Let’s be pragmatic about this the road safety issues are much less of a concern than the constant
unloading of vehicles further down the road which causes congestion and danger. The design is
ethical and something needs to happen in a positive manner. Whatever is proposed will be subject
of a similar objection. We support the proposal as we believe it will be the lesser of many other evils that may follow.”
