Sainsbury's have got their planning permission to build an out of town
store on the print works site. Both supporters and objectors and the developer
accepted that the new store would do harm to our existing small businesses in
the high street. The only debate was, how much harm? Everyone, including
Sainsbury supporters agreed that if permission was to be granted, then
conditions should be applied to ensure that our existing traders did not get
put out of business by a retail giant like Sainsbury.
Well, we now know what conditions have been imposed, and because of
ambiguous wording in the conditions, despite all the noble words of those who
spoke up in defence of our existing businesses, we find that Sainsbury can have
its own in-house butcher, and its own delicatessen. Oh, and by the way; they
have submitted another planning application to try to get permission for a
cafe; which they failed to get first time around.
I have two questions. Who neglected their duty in failing to ensure that
the resolution of the planning committee was not translated into conditions
that would properly protect the traders in our town centre? Perhaps they would
care to respond to explain why at a time
when every high street in Britain is under threat, they have chosen not to to use
established planning policies to protect ours?
Phil Jones
Tyn Dwr
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