OSWESTRY’S Chamber of Trade has written to Shropshire Council giving its support to plans to build a supermarket on the town’s Central car park.
The letter confirms that the majority of traders are against any new developments but said if the need for a new supermarket is demonstrated the chamber’s preference is that it should be met in the town centre.
The town centre scheme submitted by J. Ross Developments is one of four proposals due to go before Shropshire Council’s strategic planning committee in the next few months. The other schemes involve the redevelopment of the Smithfield Livestock Market on Shrewsbury Road, Richard Burbidge’s in Unicorn Road and J.T. Hughes & Guttercrest sites in Victoria Road.
Chamber members reached their decision at their last meeting following presentations from representatives of both the Burbidges and J Ross Developments, having already studied the J.T. Hughes and Livestock Market plans.
“Having considered each planning application, the members were unanimous in their support for the town centre scheme proposals on the Central car park,” said Chamber chairman Yossi Gliksman.
“The majority of traders in Oswestry would prefer to see the town centre developing through investments of capital from individual business and local government funding for the indoor and outdoor markets,” said Mr Gliksman.
“But if we are to have a new superstore in Oswestry there are strong reasons why we would support and ask the council to approve the town centre scheme on the grounds that it is in line with the objectives of Government policy.
“Retailers are particularly concerned about what has happened in Ellesmere and Wrexham, where out-of-town proposals have taken people away from the town centre, resulting in a growing number of empty units,” said Mr Gliksman.
“We don’t want to make the same mistake and it was therefore decided that any out-of-town proposal would have an unacceptable impact on the future viability and vitality of the existing retail centre of Oswestry.
The developers proposals for investment in infrastructure and increased car parking provision in the town centre, splitting long and short stay arrangements, were also welcomed by Chamber members.
“Our members are concerned to ensure that disruption is minimised during construction and that the scheme works properly once completed,” added Mr Gliksman.
“However, we also want a busy and vibrant town centre, and our members understand that the consequence of economic development and a prosperous town centre will be more traffic in the town.”
The Central car park is owned by Oswestry Town Council who have said their preferred application are the to plans to redevelop the Smithfield market site.