FOUR hundred and fourteen days after the application was put in, the planning committee of East Cambs District Council will be asked to decide if Soham should get a new supermarket.

Cambs Times: Soham Superstore Site, at the junction of The Shade and Kingfisher Drive.Soham Superstore Site, at the junction of The Shade and Kingfisher Drive. (Image: Archant)

A special meeting of the planning committee will take place in the council chamber at Ely on May 15 at 2pm to determine an application which has attracted over 400 comments.

Cambs Times: Taken from the developers plans submitted to East Cambridgeshire District Council, for the proposed superstore at Soham.Taken from the developers plans submitted to East Cambridgeshire District Council, for the proposed superstore at Soham. (Image: Archant)

Manea based Harrier Developments – which recently lost out to rival developers Whitacre to build a supermarket in Eastrea Road, Whittlesey- is hoping for better fortune for their site at The Shade.

Cambs Times: Taken from the developers plans submitted to East Cambridgeshire District Council, for the proposed superstore at Soham.Taken from the developers plans submitted to East Cambridgeshire District Council, for the proposed superstore at Soham. (Image: Archant)

Critical to their success will be the recommendation of East Cambs planners who must reconcile the positioning of the proposed store with the Soham Masterplan and stiff opposition from traders fearful for their future.

Cambs Times: Taken from the developers plans submitted to East Cambridgeshire District Council, for the proposed superstore at Soham.Taken from the developers plans submitted to East Cambridgeshire District Council, for the proposed superstore at Soham. (Image: Archant)

The PR battle to win over the hearts and minds of planners appears to be going to the wire – with a fresh raft of supportive comments within recent weeks.

Cambs Times: Taken from the developers plans submitted to East Cambridgeshire District Council, for the proposed superstore at Soham.Taken from the developers plans submitted to East Cambridgeshire District Council, for the proposed superstore at Soham. (Image: Archant)

Angela Beaver of West Drive Gardens, Soham, told the council they should go with the 85 per cent of the population she insists are in favour of the supermarket.

Selina Hines, of Qua Fen Common, says “there is simply no logic to denying the residents of Soham this much needed facility.

“I would like to congratulate the people who had the vision and foresight to make such a proposal.”

Coincidentally an identical letter was sent to planners by Kathryn McKechnie of Holmes Lane, Soham- and sent on the same date!

Lorraine Grainger said Soham High Street already struggles and one reason for this is that four out of five households travel to Ely and Newmarket to shop.

If there was a supermarket of the size proposed now for Soham people would shop locally “and once they have done this visit the High Street to buy other goods and services”.

Jenna Hoyle of Market Street Mews said she had recently moved to Soham and “I am somewhat disappointed that I have to rely on a friend giving me a lift to Newmarket once a week to shop at a good supermarket.”