Gridlocked: early Morrisons opening blamed for traffic chaos

The supermarket is being accused of breaching planning rules by opening its store early, before the nearby roadworks were finished.

Now officials are considering taking action against Morrisons following a week of traffic chaos.

Crowds, eager to see the new store in Leamington, have been heading to the supermarket all week - but the extra traffic this has caused, added to the slower road movements due to ongoing roadworks in Old Warwick Road, Avenue Road, Princes Drive and Europa Way, has meant that many drivers have had to endure sitting in hour-long queues.

Morrisons had been granted permission to build its store on the condition that it did not open until the works, which are part of Warwickshire County Council road improvements, are complete.

But, already a week behind its planned opening date, the supermarket was opened on Monday - while the roadworks are unlikely to be finished until mid May.

Brian Bayston, who lives in Myton Road, where traffic from the roadworks has been backing up, said: “It is absolute chaos. There are queues of traffic everywhere, all the way down Dale Street, Avenue Road and towards the train station.”

“There is only one lane open for traffic going both towards Sainsbury’s and towards Princes Drive recycling centre. It has been bad enough without Morrisons opening.”

Warwick district and Warwick town councillor Linda Bromley, whose ward includes the Myton area, said many residents have complained about the situation to her. She said: “A lot of people have been telling me how they have been held up because of all the traffic. It’s atrocious and appalling.

“I went to Morrisons on the opening day and it was absolutely heaving so they are obviously doing well. But this traffic situation should have been sorted out before it opened. It’s a pity.”

Warwick District Council chairman George Illingworth added: “It’s absolutely appalling. Leamington ought to be up in arms.

“Kenilworth Town Council rejected the county highways plan for the town because they were not suitable. I have a lot of sympathy for the people of Leamington.”

Cllr Bromley has asked district council officials if Morrisons will face any enforcement action for breaching the condition of its planning consent and is awaiting a response.

Warwick District Council planning officer Rob Young said Morrisons had on March 25 submitted an application asking if the store could open before the roadworks were complete, but because the public must be given time to comment on each application to the council, a decision cannot be made until May 6 at the earliest.

He said: “The fact that the store was opened this week means that Morrisons has breached a condition of the planning permission for the store to be built.

“The council has to decide whether enforcement action is going to be taken.”

A Morrisons spokeswoman said: “We had a successful opening and have been delighted with the feedback from our customers so far.

“The highway works, which were funded by Morrisons, have provided safe access to the store and have improved the local highway network in the area. The majority of the works are complete and will be finished within the next few weeks.”