News. . . .
June 8th, 2011
Planning application for another large new store in town
Cawdor Cars has submitted a new planning application for its car bodyshop in New Road, which it aims to turn into a store selling non-food and bulky goods. The building, formerly the bus station, would undergo some renovation, including the insertion of an internal floor to increase the retail space. No details have been provided about what kind of goods the new store would sell, but the application form gives the impression that agreement has been reached with a retailer, and the store would have extended opening hours of 9.00am to 8.00pm on Thursdays and Fridays. Trading would also take place on Sundays and Bank Holidays.
Cawdor Cars applied for and received change of use planning permission for the site in September 2008, and local residents will be pleased to know that there is a restriction on delivery times between 11.00pm and 7.00am.
The application form states that there has been no consultation with local residents.
It would appear that no objections were lodged against the original application, but that may have been because the only form of notification would have been a council notice pinned up somewhere on the site. The latest application was lodged on 17 May, but the documents have only just been published on the council’s website. Anyone interested in viewing them should go to the Council’s planning website and search for planning application W/24861.
The application raises a number of legitimate concerns, including:
- The site is very close indeed to Ysgol y Ddwylan and will certainly bring an increase in traffic to New Road. There are serious concerns about the safety of children going to and from school in what is already a very busy road, especially on mart days.
- It will establish a significant retail presence outside the town centre in a road which is mainly residential in character. Although there are currently a couple of businesses operating in the road, they are not retail outlets.
- Residents of New Road can expect a significant increase in traffic and noise, including Sundays and Bank Holidays.
Comments and objections to the application should be addressed to Mr Stuart Willis, 10 Spilman Street, Carmarthen SA31 1LQ.
