AFTER years of planning wrangles, delays and frustrations, Kinson finally has its new supermarket.

Shoppers have been flocking to the new Tesco at Wimborne Road today after it opened its doors at 8am.

With the roadworks outside, which have created a new roundabout, now finished, hopes are now that the short-term pain is over and the long-term gain can begin.

Business and community leaders are crossing their fingers that the 24,000sqft store, which Tesco says has created 151 jobs, will become a focal point and help to make Kinson a 'destination' for shoppers, rather than somewhere that they pass through.

Bob Wright, who is chairman of Kinson Business Forum, which represents more than 50 traders in the area, said: “We're relieved that it's opened now and you can see there's a lot of custom coming into the area.

“We have had to go through a lot of pain to get to this time.

“It's been like a mountain with all the roadworks, which has affected our business, but with it open now and all of these people coming in and seeing the smiling faces, it's uplifted the area.”

Some fear for the future of small businesses in the area, while the loss of the Royal Oak pub was also lamented.

But Tesco says it wants to work with the area, not against it.

Store manager Trevor Henstridge said: “I think that all of our neighbours and the residents of Kinson have had to put up with quite a lot of disruption over the last 12 months and it's great to see so many of them in here shopping.

“We're working closely with the Kinson Business Forum and we're going to bring a much-increased footfall to this area.

“We will work with the local businesses to support them and get customers crossing the road and using all of the shops in Kinson.”

THE SAGA

  • May 2010 - plans are submitted for the site; it is rumoured that the former owners of the land were approached by Tesco 10 years before that and the supermarket had been interested in the site since the 1990s.
  • December 2010 - traders say they are in the dark about the future of the site as a developer buys out leases at the shopping parade.
  • February 2011 - it is reported that the Royal Oak pub on the site has been given a closure order.
  • March 2011- it is finally confirmed that Tesco will be the supermarket on the site.
  • April 2011 - greengrocer Malcolm Townsend snubs offers to buy out his lease, which runs until November 2013.
  • May 2011 - plans go on display for the development.
  • November 2011 - Tesco wins planning permission for the site, but Mr Townsend says he is in no rush to leave.
  • March 2012 - Tesco is unable to finalise planning permission and has to resubmit its proposals.
  • July 2012 - Tesco resubmits its plans.
  • October 2012 - Tesco signs the final legal agreements, but Mr Townsend continues to trade.
  • May 2013 - Tesco says it remains committed to Kinson, despite announcing that it was putting other projects on hold around the country.
  • September 2013 - the final leaseholders, who were given short-term deals, are told that they will have to leave on November 1.
  • November 2013 - the Co-op closes and the parade becomes empty.
  • January 2014 - work on site finally begins.
  • March 2014 - the old precinct comes down.
  • June 2014 - construction begins.
  • October 2014 - the store opening is delayed into January because of 'complications' with the highways works.
  • January 2015 - the store opens.