Opposition to planned demolition of Stourport store grows

The planning application, submitted to Wyre Forest District Council on Thursday, July 16, proposes the demolition of existing ground-floor retail units, including the Select & Save convenience store, first and second-floor flats, and garage blocks at 6 Queens Road in Stourport.

The proposed demolition would make way for 18 affordable homes with a mix of one-bedroom flats and two, three, and four-bedroom houses.

The proposals have been met with opposition from residents, who say that the closure of the Select & Save store will take away the 'heart of the community' 

More than 90 residents have now made comments on the planning application in opposition to the proposal.

Miss Nikki Booth said: "I grew up in this estate and the shop was the heart of the community.

"My nan still lives on the estate a few streets away from the shop.

"She is old and not so steady on her feet now.

"This is the only shop that is local to her; the other shop on Arley Kings is way too far for her to walk.

"Taking away this shop is taking away the heart of a community and some people's lifeline when they can't get to the bigger shops."

Mr Lincoln Jordan said: "I have lived in Stourport for 14 years and the Select & Save shop has been a local shop for that time, and it has helped me with what I need.

"Everyone is kind and supportive and talkative, and it has everything people need to get them by if they need.

"It is amazing with the kids that go in for refreshments, and if you demolish it, it's going to affect everyone because some people only have that shop to go to because of the prices or distance of other shops."

Mrs Josephine Millichip said: "This shop is a very necessary amenity.

"It is used by very many people who live locally and will cause many of our older people genuine distress as it is the only shop on the large Walshes Estate."

To view the planning application, search 26/0571/FUL in Wyre Forest District Council's planning portal.