HUNDREDS of residents turned out to see plans for a new supermarket in Bishop’s Waltham put under the spotlight.

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Revised proposals for a Sainsbury’s store on the Abbey Mill site divided opinion on Tuesday, after they were displayed in the town’s Jubilee Hall.

Supermarket bosses have announced that a planning application will now be submitted by the end of the month, with building work starting in September if the green light is given.

The second public exhibition is the latest development since the battle between campaigners and supporters of the new store began 13 months ago.

Since the original proposals were submitted, a number of changes have been made including a new landscaped area between the store and South Pond, improved pedestrian linkage between the store and St George’s Square, and a new design to allow the building to blend into the historic market town.

The news comes after Britain’s Got Talent judge and former Bishop’s Waltham resident Amanda Holden vented her anger over the controversial plans at the town’s carnival earlier this month.

The former Swanmore pupil has vowed to help those trying to stop the building of the new store.

Speaking at the exhibition this week, Bruno Moore, Sainsbury’s regional town planning manager for the south east, said: “We’ve had a good flow of people through the door — about 150 in three hours.

“It’s fair to say we have a number of supporters for the scheme who would like to see Sainsbury’s come to Bishop’s Waltham, and a number of people who are concerned about the effect it’s going to have on the High Street.

“But we have to persuade people, and it’s our view that having a supermarket here is good for Bishop’s Waltham.

“If people are shopping in the supermarket they will be shopping in the High Street too.”

The Bishop’s Waltham Action Group (BWAG), which was formed to oppose the opening of the store last year, had two stands demonstrating outside the exhibition.

Chairman Tony Kippenberger said: “The reaction has been fairly strong as an awful lot of the village simply don’t want Sainsbury’s to come here.

“Visitors to an exhibition like this will tend to be against it.”

Mary Gallifant, 73, of St Bonnet Drive, Bishop’s Waltham, said: “I think it’s completely unnecessary with all the other supermarkets around.

“Another big objection is the volume of traffic that will increase and the destruction of the town centre.”

Doris Grover, 73, of Albany Drive, Bishop’s Waltham, said: “It’s going to change the character of Bishop’s Waltham.

“People moved here because it didn’t have High Street shops. It’s character is typically English.”

But Phyllis Harris, 68, of Langton Road, Bishop’s Waltham, said: “The store will enhance the area.

“We have inadequate shops in the village at the moment and they are over priced.

“The fishmonger is well beyond my means as a pensioner as is the bakers. It will be an improvement on the site which is an eye sore.”

As part of the planning application, Sainsbury’s has agreed to help finance a £1.6m relocation of Bishop’s Waltham Surgery to the Abbey Mill site.

For more information about the scheme contact Sainsbury’s community information line on 0845 602 1151, or BWAG at bwactiongroup.org.uk.