JENNETT’S PARK finally has a convenience store after a Co-Op opened at the estate on Friday (December 7) morning.
Residents living on the estate had been waiting for a food shop to open for ELEVEN years after the first flats and houses in Jennett’s Park opened in 2007.
Resident Nick Roworth told the News: “I’ve waited 4,791 days - I moved in on the 29th of June, 2007.
After 4179 days! pic.twitter.com/sKAp3orFvk
— Nick Roworth (@NiCRoworth) December 7, 2018
“I used to have to walk out of Great Hollands, which was half an hour. I don’t have a car so I couldn’t drive anywhere, so I’ve had to walk for milk for all these years.
“I’ve waited for this for a very long time. There’s been so many setbacks, and it should have been opened years ago.
“Any planners that plan near estates need to make sure that you get everything in place so that people like me don’t have to wait years and years for the facilities that are promised.”
The store officially opened at 7am before being ceremonially opened by councillor Alvin Finch, the Bracknell Forest borough mayor, as well as Cllr Sandra Ingham, the Bracknell town mayor, at 10am.
Official opening of Jennett's Park @coopukfood store by @MayorBFC and @BtcMayor @OllieSirrellLDR @MaryTemperton pic.twitter.com/jiX2o9xZ8U
— Jennett's Park CA (@JennettsParkCOM) December 7, 2018
Residents and councillors had campaigned for years for a Jennett’s Park shop to open and dozens of shoppers came to see the new store’s official opening.
Councillor Mary Temperton, ward member for Great Hollands North, told the News: “It’s a huge breath of fresh air - like a weight off my shoulders.
“At every single house we’ve knocked on, the first thing they always ask me is ‘when’s the shop opening?’ Everybody was told, and guaranteed, there would be a shop.
“It’s supposed to be a sustainable development and it’s not a sustainable development if it’s 2.8 miles for a pint of milk.
First customer to go through JP shop doors as it opened at 7.00am this morning. I am so delighted with the CoOp. It is a superb shop. We have waited so long but it is now here and wonderful.
— Mary Temperton (@MaryTemperton) December 7, 2018
“445 houses were here originally and there was supposed to be a shop, and that didn’t happen, so I asked a first question in council, a second question in council, then a third question in council.
“It was supposed to be last March, but it was delay, delay, delay. But now it’s open.
“The first resident in the estate was here at ten to seven this morning and was let in, and he has been waiting eleven years for this shop to open.
“It will cater for the whole of our community, which is just amazing.”
— Jennett's Park CA (@JennettsParkCOM) December 7, 2018
Mayor of Bracknell Forest Cllr Alvin Finch said it was a “pleasure” to open the new store after acknowledging Jennett’s Park residents had wanted a shop for “so long”.
He added: “It’s been great that councillors have kept the pressure up and finally got it open.
“It’s going to make so much difference as it’s so convenient having somewhere local.
“People are going to keep coming.”
Jennett’s Park Coop is finally open! Massive thank you to both the Borough and Town Mayor who were able to attend ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Wa9qHeCyov
— Dr Peter Hill (@Dr_Peter_Hill) December 7, 2018
The Co-Op donated £250 to Jennett’s Park Community Centre which is based opposite the new store.
Co-Op employee Haden, who lives in Easthampstead, told the News: “It’s been a hell of a journey - years and years in the making.
“We’ve built a close relationship with the community here.
“It’s been a rocky road but we’re finally open and I’m very happy with how things have turned out.”
It's finally happened, we have a shop on Jennett's Park! Well done to Justin and the @coopukfood team for their hard work. And a big 'thank you' to Cllr @MaryTemperton, Michael Gbadebo and Cllr Dr Peter Hill for their perseverance. @NiCRoworth, waiting since 2007, was customer 1 pic.twitter.com/auOy4rKQW1
— Jennett's Park CA (@JennettsParkCOM) December 7, 2018
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