THE extension of Alton Sainsbury's is on course for a completion date of September 13. Work began in January this year to implement plans, approved in November 2003, to provide a large extension and single car park deck at the site in Drayman's Way. The extension will increase the store's floorspace by 1,284 sqm to 5,518 sqm, representing an increase in retail space of 48 per cent. The refurbished store will include a coffee bar and a section for children's and adult clothing. The car park deck will adjoin the new part of the building, and will provide an extra 140 parking spaces which will be used by Sainsbury's and town centre shoppers. The car park is to be managed on a pay to park basis, with Sainsbury's shoppers being able to claim the money back at the tills. The ground floor level is already in use. According to the on-site project manager, the car park ramp has been made of concrete to provide an all-weather surface which will be heated in the winter to avoid icing. And, while stark to the eye at present, is expected to be camouflaged by some form of cladding. A spokesman for Sainsbury's has confirmed that the store is expected to be closed for six days from September 6 for an internal refit, to tie the extension in with the rest of the store. At the moment Sainsbury's is carrying out a customer survey to determine how best to provide a service during the brief closure period. There are two options being considered, the first to provide a free bus service for customers to visit the Sainsbury's store in Liphook or to provide customers with vouchers to spend in another Sainsbury's store of their choice. The decision will be made by the end of May, when the survey will have sought the views of more than 500 customers.
