A village shop could be moved across the road into a modern new building if planners agree to the idea, despite concerns about road safety from parish councillors and local residents.
Punch Partnerships, that runs the Chequers pub, have asked for planning permission to develop a convenience store with longer opening hours within its existing car park.
The aim is to move the Co-op from opposite, but the parish council say they “strongly object” as it is a dangerous development on an already busy road.
The county council do not object - despite concerns over store deliveries by large lorries.
Gareth Pritchard, planning officer at East Cambs District Council, said: “The principle of the proposed convenience store in the centre of Fordham is acceptable.
“Visually the proposed store is considered to have a less than significant impact on the setting of the grade II listed public house and visually is well thought out and high quality.”
One resident said the store is: “Extremely dangerous to safety of pedestrians and cars using Carter Street” as there are already near misses.
Another said the Co-op deliveries are a nuisance, arriving seven days a week, with engines left running and causing traffic blocks for up to 15 minutes.
One local said cars have been damaged by the lorries and one vehicle on the street has been damaged nine times due to traffic issues. There were also fears for children using the narrow footpath on the bend.
Those in favour said wider aisles would improve accessible shopping, there would be a bigger choice of food and it would stop the village looking “drab.”
A spokesman for the county council transport planning team said they did not object, however, lorry deliveries caused concerns.
The spokesman said: “Having dealt with Co-op stores in the past normally they receive deliveries from 16 metre artic lorries that service a number of stores in one trip.
“The tracking shows a 13 metre long vehicle crossed the white centre line on Carter Street, this causes concerns. Within the site a 13 metre long vehicle has to make the perfect manoeuvre every time, there is no room for error.”
The application will be discussed today (Thursday 8) by East Cambs District Council planning committee.
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