News. . . .
March 26th, 2010
Election Candidate says Supermarket Application Should Be Called In by Welsh Government
Plaid’s Westminster candidate for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr has criticised the Welsh Government’s Environment Minister, Jane Davidson AM, for failing to call in a planning applications for the creation of a supermarket in Newcastle Emlyn on the Cawdor site. Jonathan Edwards, has urged the Minister to review the application in the face of local concern at its impact on the economy of the areas town centre.
Plaid‘s Westminster candidate Jonathan Edwards said:
“The economic model used by Carmarthenshire County Council to justify the development is simply wrong. There has been little consideration given to the new CK’s supermarket in Llandysul, Sainsbury’s in Aberteifi or the expansion of Tesco’s in the same area in the Retail Impact Assesment used by the Authority to sanction the development.
For this supermarket development to be viable it would have to undermine the small businesses in Newcastle Emlyn town centre. I would think that it is appropriate for the Minister to call this application in and take it under review, looking at the wider impact it will have on the local economy of the area.”
Jonathan Edwards added:
“Ultimately what we need to do, to ensure that we successfully get out of the recession, is concentrate on helping small and medium size businesses, and to support local organisations. Accepting planning applications that will undermine existing local businesses will only create greater problems in the long term. Our town centres are our lifeblood and we must make sure they remain vibrant.”
DIWEDD / ENDS