B&NES Council reports progress on plans to build a substantial supermarket on South Road Car Park, Midsomer Norton.

Marketing commenced in May via an email to supermarkets and developers as a teaser campaign, supplemented with an advert in the national commercial property magazine, Estates Gazette.

• Expressions of interest totalled 42

• Tender bids including design proposals were received on 28th June from five companies

• These bids are currently being evaluated and a shortlist of three will be invited for interview by B&NES during July, with the aim to select a preferred bidder in the next six weeks

• Site investigations are underway to examine the ground conditions; these are very positive as to the potential lack of contamination on the site.

The Council's Contaminated Land Officer agrees with the recommendations. She has suggested that the Environment Agency review the report and make their comments at this stage.

The lack of serious pollution on this former industrial site will save money and reduce the time needed to build the store, if planning permission is granted and a suitable deal can be done with a developer. Unfortunately, the cash will go into B&NES general kitty, rather than being spent in Midsomer Norton.

The proposal has raised strong feelings with residents and local traders. They fear that the supermarket will lead to car parks being full from early in the day, preventing customers and staff from finding convenient car parking spaces. The contrary argument is that the supermarket will be sufficiently close to the town centre to provide an incentive for customers of the new supermarket to visit the nearby town centre stores on Midsomer Norton High Street as a part of their supermarket shopping trip.