Fears pedestrians could be hit by cars if new Cambridgeshire village shop opens

The plans would ‘transform’ the ‘neglected site’

Plans to revive a “derelict” shop site have been slammed over safety concerns following the death of a pedestrian outside a similar store. A new Co-op shop in Mill Road in Isleham. is set to open, despite concerns over traffic and parking.

The shop would be relocated from the current store in West Street, and previous plans were withdrawn earlier this year after concerns were raised around heritage impact, transport and highway safety. The applicant, Co-operative Food Group Limited, revised the plans and changed the design and orientation of the shop and access from Mill Street.

The proposal, submitted to East Cambridgeshire District Council, sought full permission for the shop and outline permission for two bungalows to the back of the site. It also included 13 parking spaces – including one accessible space and one parent and child bay.

Justin Lloyd, agent for the applicant, told the council’s planning committee that the former Pattersons Stores site, which was demolished in 2023, has “fallen into a derelict and deteriorating condition”. He said the new build would transform a “neglected site” into an “attractive landscape development” and create a “larger, more modern shop, with improved parking”.

Cllr Julia Huffer, district councillor for Fordham and Isleham, said everyone in the village is “desperate” to see a “new and improved store” but raised “safety concerns”. She accused Cambridgeshire County Council’s highways department of ignoring residents’ concerns around traffic and said a similar situation had happened before the Co-op opened in nearby Fordham.

The Conservative councillor said: “When trying to leave the car park I frequently take my life in my hands – it’s a regular occurrence. We were assured by the highways department that the road past the Co-op in Fordham was a quiet B-road and sufficient braking space was available.

“However, following the death of a resident knocked down while trying to cross the road three months after the new store opened, the parish council applied for a pedestrian crossing.”

She said this was refused by the county council which said there was not enough braking space for a crossing as “traffic coming round the corner comes too quickly”. Cllr Huffer said: “I fear that a similar situation is likely to happen in Isleham and this is completely unacceptable.

“Residents know more about the everyday traffic conditions in their village than any highways expert or traffic management expert and we need to listen to their concerns.

“I seriously fear for the health and safety of the residents in Isleham if the same things happen in Isleham that have happened in Fordham.”

She also claimed residents in Limestone Close were concerned the bungalows would overlook their properties and said the fencing “resembles a prison camp”, asking for it to be made more appealing.

Isleham Parish Council strongly supported the move to relocate the current store which they said is a “vital facility” for the village. Richard Radcliffe, chair of the council, told the committee the scheme would be a “significant enhancement” to the current shop and reiterated their “strong and long-standing support”.

The council approved the application by nine votes to two, adding the condition that an updated transport assessment be provided to consider parking and speed restrictions on Mill Street to make the road safer.