Asda has been revealed as the supermarket giant in controversial talks over the sale of college land.
It has also emerged that two governors have resigned over the proposals for the Hibbert Lane campus of Cheadle and Marple Sixth Form College.
A number of sources told us that Asda is the preferred buyer for the site in Marple.
It is believed the firm tabled the highest offer at a governors’ meeting in July.
If the sale goes ahead, depending on planning permission, the deal is thought to be worth around £14m – which would be spent on a revamp of the nearby Buxton Lane campus.
Deputy chair of governors, Trevor Jones, confirmed talks are under way with a large retailer but would not confirm which one. He said: "We are pursuing the highest bidder.
"We are charged with selling to the highest bidder – the department of education, which funds us, will not allow us to do otherwise.
"Whether they get planning permission is an issue for them and the community will be consulted on that – that is not a debate for us.
"The time for us to get involved is when we get to the point of putting together plans for our Buxton Lane campus. We have to have a sustainable and successful future in Marple."
More than 1,000 people took to the streets to protest against the land sale, while a ‘yes’ campaign group has also been formed.
College principal Christina Cassidy said the college had invited all types of companies to make bids, including housing developers. And she hit out at rumours some of Hibbert Lane’s facilities would disappear.
"Buxton Lane is going to be a lovely facility," she said. "All facilities will move including the library and the health and social care facilities."
Asda declined to comment.
College governors step down over Marple store land plan
TWO governors have stepped down over fears the supermarket would damage local trade.
Stephen Downs and Margaret McLay have resigned their posts at Cheadle and Marple Sixth Form College over plans to sell its Hibbert Lane site to a supermarket chain.
Mr Downs, a governor for four years, said a new store would ‘put local shops out of business’ and add to congestion. He would prefer to see affordable homes built on Hibbert Lane.
Mr Downs said: "Given my personal and community-based objections to the scheme, it was impossible for me to represent the college independently as a governor.
"While I acknowledge that financially a large supermarket offered the best deal, I believe that the college has a responsibility to make decisions that are in the best interests of the wider community – and a large supermarket does not do this."
"The governors are all good people trying to do what is best for the college in very testing times."
Ms McLay, also a governor for four years, said: "I know that the college faces a difficult time but it’s not the fault of the residents.
"A supermarket will have a huge impact on Marple’s town centre and the traffic is very very busy. I think the college has been badly advised on this. We already have a large Co-op and a Morrisons in Bredbury, so another supermarket is not necessary."
CAMPAIGNERS warn they will fight supermarket proposals ‘to the end’ if a college land sale goes ahead.
Residents told a special Marple area committee meeting they feared a new store would threaten independent stores and cause traffic chaos.
Dave Hoyle, from Marple In Action, said a supermarket plan was ‘completely wrong for the town.’
"We will oppose it to the end ," he added. Yes campaigner Gary Ashworth said a store would be popular with low income families and create jobs.
Regarding claims that residents had not been consulted, principal Christina Cassidy said after the meeting: "We have met with everyone who has asked to meet with us."
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Personally I would welcome Asda to Marple as they provide great value and don't seem to be pursuing the hypermarket model when compared to their major competitor.
The arguments for ANY type of supermarket are based on the view they are cheaper to shop at than anywhere else. Supermarkets spend millions pursuading us this is true - it isn't. A big supermarket will force all the small independent butchers / grocers / bakers out of business, who are better value anyway. Marple will become just like dozens of other towns - dominated by an ugly great box.
Christina Cassidy claims the college have met with everyone who has asked - why then have they repeatedly snubbed the residents group opposing the sale???
This is great news if it gets the go ahead!!!
Hahaha, and most of you whingers were spitting feathers about Tesco and now it is revealed to be ASDA. Priceless. Supermarkets are all the same.
saving you money ..... everyday...... always !
And also come bottom on any kind of ethical poll, I for one won't shop at ASDA (Wallmark) because of their ethical stance.
really hope it goes through then it mught take some of the traffic away from hazel grove!
wasnt the quote above saying anouther supermarket wasnt needed because theres a large co op and morrisons in bredbury, firstly im not from marple but whenever ive gone there to shop theres not a great deal there and co op isnt that big or great!
and secondly regarding morrisons,what your saying is that you can go to morrisons and cause traffic in that area but as long as its not on your lovely marple then your happy to cause traffic out of the area!
dont they want to build it right next to that big council estate?
I do 2mins away from Hilbert lane for your information
A huge Asda / Tesco / Morrisons or whoever will gut Marple's independent shops.
Visit Tescopoly dot org for case studies of exactly this happening in towns around Britain.
I'd prefer the little grocers, bakers etc over some monstrosity dumped in the middle of the town and gridlocking it with traffic. Tried to get up Glossop's high street since they built the huge Tesco there???
For those of you against it simple solution is to not use it and carry on using your local shops and for those that do want it then they can use it, the people that do want it probably travel to one of the other supermarkets anyway and I bet those against it don't solely use the local shops and do travel to other supermarkets for certain items. The main shop that will suffer will probably be the Co-Op anyway due to it being more expensive than most supermarkets anyway.
i bet that all the anti-supermarket protesters will be first in the queue when / if this goes ahead,thinking to themselves ' isnt this conveinent,no more getting a bus or no need to waste fuel etc '.i for one fully support this supermarket,it will create jobs,bring people into the area,that would not do otherwise.
local shops may be affected at first,but the true and loyal shopper would still use the grocer,baker etc.perhaps the grocer baker etc will use the supermarket as well :)
thanks to Morrisons(Safeway before it) then small shops in Bredbury have disappeared forever.. the shops on highfield park rd have gone apart from the chippy, the shops on Bents lane have mainly gone with nearly half empty, except a chippy, security shop, hairdressers and funeral director(services which Morrissons dont provide) - butcher went years ago... as for newsagents - forget it!!
Good luck to small businesses in Marple, but your gonna have to provide a service that ASDA dont provide in order to survive IMO
For people who live in Marple, finally these greedy traders finally have some competition, such likes the Co-Op over charging for years
I say start building now
Not a lot of NIMBY's in Marple but the ones that are (only a few) claim to speak for everyone. Someone should tell them they don't speak for me nor anyone I know.
Get it built and as soon as possible please. There was hardly anyone on that protest march compared to the thousands who would love a convenient supermarket.
Do they think about the old folks who struggle to get a decent amount of affordable stuff when they shop – No they think it might take them another 5 mins to get to work.
Selfish that’s all they are - looking out for their own selfish interests without a thought or a care for others.
I wonder if the people of Marple would be complaining if it was a nice posh Waitrose planned rather than a chavvy Asda? Personally I hate supermarkets and try and shop at small independents whenever possible, including those in Marple. I don't think the people who currently buy their meat at the local butchers are suddenly going to swap it for Asda junk... If so many people in Marple are against it and continue to support their local shops then Asda will not survive, the ones that will use it probably don't shop at small shops anyway...
This is good news for Marple, its what we need. The people who are against it know it too. There is nowhere suitable within the retail zone. The council have put forward the sorting office site as suitable. So to satisfy the no campaign we loose our sorting office and job loses to our posties. What about the residents next to the sorting office? what about parking? what about the traffic? these are the main points to the no campaign. But are quite happy for those problems within the zone. if it was built on Hibbert Lane then the traffic would flow nicely, if built on chadwick street, the traffic will be backed up trying to turn out onto church lane. Just not practical at all.
I find it insulting that the no campaign say our local shops will close, we support our local shops already but have to drive out of Marple to do our grocery shop. our shopping habbits wont stop when we already buy our veg and meat from the local shops.
Only a couple of posters actually against this but they claim to speak for everyone.
I would ask them when they go out of thier village to to shopping do they not take their cars and does this traffic not go through Marple then Offerton then Stockport. If they were already driving through Marple to do their shopping then driving within Marple should not increase traffic. Same amount of cars on the road less distances to travel.
Progress only occours when the people who are set in their ways and unwilling to accept change are put back in their place. They are just another resident no better than any of the others even if they talk louder.
How about those at the college?? your moaning about your community what about all those students who enjoy there studying there that means the college on hibbert will be knocked and even if they do rebuild nearer to the Buxton lane site what are they going to do until it is built... Plus the amount of traffic will cause the buses to slow perhaps even increasing lateness to the college from those that don't live so close?