Archive - Tuesday, 27 January 2004


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Traders object to Safeway scheme

ABERGAVENNY traders are to object to the plans by Safeway to increase the size of their superstore on the outskirts of the town.

The supermarket company has submitted plans to Monmouthshire County Council to expand the store at Llanfoist and these are still waiting to be considered by the county planning committee.

At last week's meeting of Abergavenny Chamber of Trade and Commerce several members expressed their concern about the Safeway plans, especially in light of the schemes for Westgate Yard and Coopers in Llanfoist and the scheme for the Brecon Road site.

Chris Belcham said he understood the scheme was designed to make the superstore 60% bigger, but John Bannon said he thought a figure of 40% had been mentioned.

George Ashworth, head of planning for Monmouthshire said the scheme is to increase the store from 25,000 sq.ft to 40,000 sq.ft.

Keith Spencer said: "Safeway is over-trading and there is room for another foodstore, and we would all agree it needs to be on the cattle market site rather than any other site up for development."

Hugh Candler said the Chamber of Trade should object to the Safeway application for any increase in the size of the store, but in particular for any non-food uses.

President Alex Edwards promised to contact Monmouthshire County Council planning chief George Ashworth to clarify the scheme, and to lodge a formal objection on behalf of the members.

She asked members to back the SAUCE (Save Abergavenny's Unique Character and Environment) action group and appealed for more traders to attend their next meeting in the Hen and Chicks.

Chris Belcham said SAUCE members believed the Westgate Yard scheme should not have been allowed because of the retail element with Homebase and they had asked the National Assembly to call in the council's decision.

John Bannon said traders felt positive about their relationship with the council after a presentation in November by George Ashworth and Chris Jones, principal projects officer.

He said: "We felt the two officers understand the need to maintain the vitality of the town centre. Nothing different has happened since that meeting, I felt they were forthright and honest with us.

"I don't feel we will get a constructive relationship with them by yapping at their heels."