A RETAILER has announced it will be taking over one of the last two remaining units at Stane Park, but opinions on one of Colchester’s newest retail parks remain divided.

Earlier this year the developer behind the huge leisure park in Stanway applied to split its final vacant plot in two.

Colchester Council’s planning department approved the plans, and gift retailer Card Factory, which already has a store in the Lion Walk Shopping Centre, has announced it will be moving into one of the newly split shopping spaces.

The greetings cards giant has started advertising management vacancies on its website, suggesting the new store will open in October.

Gazette: Empty - a vacant unit at Stane ParkEmpty - a vacant unit at Stane Park (Image: Newsquest)

The controversial shopping village, which houses big names like M&S, Superdrug, and Nando’s, has split the opinion of residents in Stanway and further afield with issues with parking and traffic congestion causing concern.

Campaigner Maarten Westera, whose wife Sarah started the Save Colchester High Street Campaign after M&S announced it would be closing its High Street store to make way for its new Stane Park home, said the “chaotic” retail park is “damaging our city centre”.

He said: “We will be writing to Card Factory to get confirmation on their position regarding the city centre store as it would be hugely damaging if a store like that were to leave the city centre.

“No-one is going to drive all the way to Stane Park to buy a card for someone’s birthday. If they’re keeping both stores open then good luck to them but we would want assurances that the current store will remain.”

Gazette: Old and new - the former M&S store in Colchester High Street (left) and the new store at Stane ParkOld and new - the former M&S store in Colchester High Street (left) and the new store at Stane Park (Image: Newsquest)

Card Factory has been asked to confirm the future of its store in Culver Walk but at the time of publication the company had not responded.

Colchester Council leader David King insisted the city welcomes a choice of shopping options both in and out of the city centre.

“The council wishes well to all who invest in the city and district, recognising that the growing population looks for different shopping experiences close to home,” he said.

“Stane Park does not detract from the priority we give to the city centre with its shopping, leisure, entertainment, and cultural strengths.”