Aldridge supermarket’s car sales plan is rejected
Motor purchaser WeBuyAnyCar.com has been told it can’t buy any cars from shoppers of an Aldridge supermarket.
Walsall Council planning officers have refused to grant Morrisons permission to have a sales pod placed on its Anchor Road car park because it would result in too many spaces being lost.
The supermarket giant said the service offered by WeBuyAnyCar.com was valued by their customers, adding it would result in two new jobs.
Had it been approved, a pod would have been placed in the car park with the potential for up to 10 cars being sold each day.
Agents Whittam Cox Architects said: “WeBuyAnyCar.com purchase vehicles from the general public, as a quick easy sale, offering customers an alternative to private sales.
“The nature of the business operating from the site is such that customers are offered an online quotation for the sale of their vehicle which, if accepted, can be taken at one of 140 local purchasing points across the UK.
“By locating the service conveniently within the car park of the existing Morrisons store, and providing quotes prior to customer coming to the pod, WeBuyAnyCar.com aim to provide a sustainable service coinciding with existing local travel and parking patterns.
“No cars are sold from these sites, all WeBuyAnyCar.com branches only purchase cars, and all cars are taken off site and sold at auction.
“WeBuyAnyCar.com’s online service allows for the agreement of a mutually convenient collection time at the site where inspection of the vehicle and agreement of the sale will occur.
“There is a maximum of 10 cars on a site at one time, however this is more likely to 4-6 on a normal day. The sold vehicles will remain in a parking space until collection.
“Wm Morrison Supermarkets Ltd would also add that WeBuyAnyCar.com offer a service which is highly valued by Morrisons customers and firmly aligns with their plan to bring more and more popular and useful services to the communities that they serve. There is no disruption to their normal operation.
“The scheme seeks to revitalise the existing Morrisons car park by offering more choice to customers and generating new employment opportunities through the provision of a WeBuyAnyCar.com pod.”
But council planners said: “The proposed development will result in the unacceptable loss of 12 existing car parking spaces including some of the most accessible spaces in the car park to the detriment of highway safety.”
