VOTE: Do you think shoppers will remain loyal to the rebuilt Rustington Sainsbury’s despite proposals for a Morrisons at Wick and Asda at Ferring?

The country’s second largest supermarket chain announced this week it would be replacing the 21-year-old New Road store with a completely new building.

It follows news late last year that Asda is to build a new superstore on the former Country Fayre garden centre site two miles east of Rustington, at Ferring, and Morrisons’ announcement last summer of its proposals for a new supermarket on the old Body Shop site at Wick, two miles west along the A259.

Sainsbury’s has submitted a series of planning applications to Arun District Council in recent years to extend the existing Rustington supermarket, but now appears to be going a step further with a total rebuild at a time when competition for customers along the A259 corridor is set to intensify.

Next week the company is launching a public consultation on its proposals, asking people living in the area for their views.

A spokesman said: “The new store would allow Sainsbury’s to provide a wider range of products and services which customers now expect at a modern foodstore.”

Letters outlining the plans are going out to 4,600 homes and businesses in the area this week, giving information on a dedicated consultation website and public exhibitions, where visitors can also view the proposals.

The website – www.sainsburys-rustington.co.uk – will be launched on Monday and will display information on the proposals.

The website will include an online comments form, which provides visitors with the opportunity to submit feedback electronically by Friday, February 3.

The public exhibitions next week are at the supermarket on Thursday (January 19), from 4-8pm, and at the former Edlows bookshop at 17 Churchill Parade, Rustington, on Friday (January 20) from 4-8pm and Saturday (January 21), 10am-2pm.

For the full story see the Littlehampton Gazette, out today (Thursday, January 12).

Do you think shoppers will remain loyal to the rebuilt Rustington Sainsbury’s despite proposals for a Morrisons at Wick and Asda at Ferring?

Cast your vote by clicking on the poll at the top right of this story.

Alternatively, have your say by emailing [email protected].