A NEW supermarket is to open in Downend, it emerged yesterday.
Sainsbury's – the third largest supermarket chain in the country – is planning to open a new 'local' store in Badminton Road.
The store, currently occupied by Motaman, has been bought by the chain in readiness for the move.
Work on converting the store will start in September with the new supermarket likely to open in time for the busy Christmas period.
Car spares firm Motaman which is moving 50 metres away to a new premises after striking a deal with the supermarket chain.
The only other supermarket in Downend is a Cooperative shop in the nearby Willow shopping centre.
Motaman managing director Yousouf Ramlugon said: "This is an exciting time for the team at Motaman and the local residents of Downend.
"A new Sainsbury's store opening will create a good number of new jobs and it also means we will be refurbishing another outlet just a short walk down Badminton Road."
He added: "We want thank all the local residents for their past custom over the last 25 years and we looking forward to welcoming them to our all new store just down the road.
"We also want to reassure people that we have no intention of closing and will remain open in Downend."
Motaman first opened in Bristol in 1985 and also has branches in Bedminster Parade and Gloucester Road North in Filton. The firm said it was hoping to keep hold of all its staff during throughout the move.
Meanwhile, Sainsbury's confirmed it has agreed to takeover the unit and has been looking to move into the Downend area for several months.
The chain already has a big presence in the Bristol area and is also looking to open to major stores at Ashton Gate and at the Memorial Ground in Horfield.
As reported in the Post there are doubts that the scheme will get off the ground. Bristol Rovers has been given planning permission to build a new £40 million stadium at Stoke Gifford – but the project depends on consent being given for the supermarket at the current ground to help fund the ambitious scheme.
Bev Knott, the Lib Dem councillor for Bishopston, believes many residents in the area are opposed to the scheme.
Mr Knott said: "It is a very difficult situation because on the one hand, the club needs the supermarket to go ahead so they can get their new stadium but on the other hand, there are some significant problems.
"I understand the traffic people at the city council are not particularly happy about some aspects of the scheme and there is of course the effect of another supermarket on the shops in Gloucester Road.
"Supermarkets seem to sprout up like mushrooms on a wet autumn day these days and you just wonder how many we actually need.
"There again, there is some housing between this supermarket scheme and the shops in Gloucester Road."
Mr Knott said he was waiting to see the results of a retail impact study which assesses the effects on existing shops in the area.
He is also expecting to meet with the council's planning officers during the next few weeks to be briefed about the traffic issues.
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