Store Wars break out in Machynlleth!

Thursday, 06 August 2009

SUPERSTORE wars have begun in Machynlleth with the Co-operative supermarket revealing it is intending to enlarge its site in response to plans for a new Tesco. Meanwhile, Tesco has said that plans to include a pharmacy in their new store in town were made “in error”. The Co-op, based in Heol Maengwyn, has for months refused to confirm it had bought the community centre from Machynlleth Town Council. However, this week two planning applications were submitted to Powys County Council by the company, one for consent in a conservation area to demolish the old community centre, and a second to erect a foodstore extension and associated works at the Co-op. Tesco submitted a planning application to build a new store on the site of the farmers’ market and the former Travis Perkins location just two weeks ago - a move which has seen both strong support and opposition from the local community. A spokesperson for the Co-operative store told the Cambrian News this week: “As part of our ongoing commitment to Machynlleth, The Co-operative Group has submitted a planning application to enlarge its existing store in the town to improve its service to the local community.” A new community centre is being constructed within Y Plas and is due to open later this year. Last week the plans for Tesco were mostly welcomed by members of Machynlleth Town Council, although one councillor, Glenda Jenkins, expressed concern that contrary to earlier reassurances, the application now appeared to include a pharmacy. This week, Felix Gummer of Tesco said: “The store will absolutely not have a pharmacy and any reference to them in the plans has been made in error. “This will be rectified immediately. “Tesco is already in talks with the Machynlleth Job Centre Plus as the new environmental store will create 140 new local part and full-time jobs.“ Mr Gummer added that all comments received from the public consultation held earlier this year had been submitted as part of the planning application to Powys County Council. Following Montgomeryshire MP Lembit Öpik’s comments last week that he had “major concerns” about the scheme, he was seen in Machynlleth collecting signatures for a petition against the store. Many letters of objection have been sent to the planning department, including a letter from Jenny Hall, an architectural designer and installation artist, which states: “Machynlleth is a small town and these changes could have a substantial impact. “The far more popular choice for progressive towns and cities is to enable independent farmers’ markets. A covered market area in Machynlleth would provide the right infrastructure for local food provision that supports a robust and diverse local economy where money stays in the area.” Locally-based environmental campaigner and journalist George Monbiot has said that the development will “wreck Machynlleth”. However, local resident of 60 years Kay Jones said she was furious over Mr Öpik’s petition. “What has this got to do with him? “The majority of the town are for this supermarket, as it will bring jobs to the area. Machynlleth is going to be left behind and it will be left as some quiet backwater place.” The Mayor of Machynlleth, Cllr Sylvia Rowlands, said she had been inundated with comments from the public over the Tesco plans. “The response I’ve had is that more people are for it than against," she said

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