Ware Online Community Forum

As new supermarkets seem to be the thing in Ware at the moment - has anyone heard the rumour that Waitrose are thinking of now having a store up near Van Hages? A neighbour mentioned this to me this afternoon - and says it comes someone who works for them.

Wow. Then we would just need a Morrisons and a Co-op for the full set!!

Fantastic news.

There's no room up near van hage is there?

Matt40 wrote:There's no room up near van hage is there?

Perhaps the intention is to park an Ocado van in the layby up near the roundabout?

New Boy wrote:Fantastic news.

It's not news, it's a rumour, and a groundless one at that. An out of town supermarket on green belt land? Seriously?

Steve wrote:

New Boy wrote:Fantastic news.

It's not news, it's a rumour, and a groundless one at that. An out of town supermarket on green belt land? Seriously?

No longer groundless. Posted on their Facebook page a couple of hours ago:

Special Announcement

On numerous occasions recently we have been advised by local customers that there are rumours circulating regarding the future of Van Hage Garden Centre, some of these rumours speculate that the business has been sold or merged. These are untrue.

We have been operating for over 60 years and can assure you that the Board of Directors and Van Hage Family fully intend to continue trading as an independent, privately owned business.

In these highly competitive times we have been looking at options to extend and expand the facilities here and have been considering plans to secure a future investment programme. Potential new and exciting developments will be published shortly when plans are finalised and we are in a position to move forward.

We hope this helps to clarify the position and whilst recent gossip has been about us closing, we are delighted that your support produced record sales in December when we were pleased to provide skating for 55,000 visitors on our Christmas Ice Rink.

We thank you for your past custom, and hope to have the pleasure of serving you for many years to come.

I would still question whether or not they'd be allowed to built a supermarket on land designated as Green Belt.

Interesting to note that a lot of comments on Facebook are along the lines of people just going up for a wander, drink and cake or to take the grandchildren out.

So far from clarifying they are obfuscating... The message is clear to me, they are up to something!

If there's a significant enough economic benefit... it doesn't matter how the land is designated. Currently, they have lots of car parking. Change that to a big multi-storey, including lots of below ground space and there's effectively no change to the use at all.