WAITROSE wants to double its supermarket space by building a new store at the Portlands Alley site.

The supermarket chain has confirmed speculation that it has paid "several million" pounds for the land in Marlow.

The deal to buy the three-and-a-half acre site from Jersey-based company CHL Cache Holdings Ltd was completed last week.

A Waitrose spokesman has revealed to the Marlow Free Press that the company aims to close their ageing 12,000sq ft store in West Street and build a modern new one. Their modern stores range between 20,000sq ft and 25,000sq ft.

In a written statement a Waitrose spokesman said: "Waitrose has purchased the freehold of the Portland site, Marlow. Subject to planning, we believe it is a suitable site for a modern relocation of our 26-year-old branch, which in itself has limited scope for improvement. We have secured the site while we look into the possibilities. An important consideration in any decision will be finding an alternative occupier for our present premises."

The spokesman said: "We cannot give any exact size, but we have no desire to build a megastore. We can say that our modern supermarkets are between 20,000sq ft and 25,000sq ft. With that size supermarket we can provide much wider aisles and a much more comfortable store with a wider range and better services."

The spokesman said similar stores had been built in Wokingham and in Oxford Road, Reading.

She said it would be difficult to predict an opening date, even if the scheme meets planning regulations.

Bill Atkinson, of Bushbuy Limited, advised CHL Cache Holdings on the sale of the site. He said negotiations over the site had taken a year and he rejected speculation that Waitrose had pre-empted rival supermarkets.

The news of the buy-out received a mixed reaction across the town.

Marlow mayor Jim Campbell said he welcomed the news but added that he is concerned about extra traffic and competition.

He said: "I am very happy, really, that this should be an extension of the store, but am worried about the traffic issue and how that can be coped with. I just hope we can get a bit of extra competition in the town. We have got Budgens and they are very good, but I am concerned about all the Marlow folk that do not have the money to shop at Waitrose."

Colin Berks, Marlow Chamber of Trade and Commerce spokesman on planning and transport, said the chamber would issue a statement when it has heard its members views.

Richard Hunt, chairman of Marlow Town Forum, said: "My personal concern is if we lose the main street frontage. We do not want to slip into the regretted systems that have been imposed in places like Henley and Wokingham."

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