Caerphilly Council’s deputy leader Colin Mann has warned that a campaign by Labour to bring a food retailer to Blackwood Gate Retail Park could kill off Blackwood high street.
Councillor Mann said: “Blackwood is recognised as one of the best shopping centres, if not the best, in Caerphilly County Borough – another huge supermarket, in addition, to the two already in existence locally could pose a huge threat to its viable future
“There are complaints across the UK about too much out-of-town shopping sounding the death knell of traditional town centres.
“Much has been made of new jobs. A number of studies have shown that too many supermarkets, and there are two major one’s in Blackwood, actually result in more jobs being lost in a locality than created.
“Many of the jobs are part-time and there is a strong argument that having an over-concentration of supermarkets does not bring in money into the local economy. They just recycle what’s already there.”
Labour councillors and candidates have criticised the decision by the council’s planning committee to refuse permission for a change of use for the main unit at Blackwood Gate Retail Park.
Morrisons had been lined up to take over the 46,000 sq ft unit after Focus DIY went bust last year. The move could have created between 250 and 400 jobs for the local area but council officers advised planning councillors not to approve the plans.
Councillor Mann added: “The decision to refuse the supermarket plan was taken on proper planning grounds. The case has already gone to appeal and been turned down by a Welsh Assembly Planning Inspector. Labour has been completely irresponsible in misleading people.
“Sainsbury previously rejected this site and even if planning permission had been given nothing could have happened for at least two years.
“What is the main motive of the private developers who have stirred up this issue? Money, of course. If they get their way they will walk away with millions of pounds. They also don’t need to worry about the impact on local private businesses.’’
Councillor Mann said that when the Blackwood development was first mooted a large petition, signed by over 300 local residents, was submitted to the council against the retail park because of the feared impact on the town centre.
Writing in last week’s South Wales Argus, Blackwood Councillor Nigel Dix said: “For the record three Labour councillors from the Rhymney Valley side voted against, all four labour members from Islwyn voted for Morrisons and all three independents from the Rhymney Valley side voted for Morrisons making seven in favour.
“We only needed a few Plaid members to support the application and we would all be celebrating 250 jobs. I am appalled that three labour members voted with Plaid, the issue for me was not partisan it was about jobs, we needed Plaid’s support to get Morrisons into Blackwood but Plaid let us down.”
We need a Morrisons in Blackwood !! – We only have Asda's – I don't class Aldi/Iceland or Farmfoods a Supermarket….we lost Safeway when they closed & that building is laying empty still, as well as all the empty units where focus used to be – There are jobs to be had & are needed……it shouldn't damage the high street – Asdas hasn't – People should be able to have a choice of where they shop – Caerphilly has an Asda & Morrisons – why can't we ????
Colin Mann says; “Many of the jobs are part-time and there is a strong argument that having an over-concentration of supermarkets does not bring in money into the local economy. They just recycle what’s already there.” this was said in support of NOT having another supermarket in Blackwood, Colin Mann says that such developments destroy the HIGH STREETS in town`s shopping centres.
That was not Caerphilly council Plaid Cymru position when TESCO`s applied to convert the old FOCUS superstore, `out of town` in Caerphilly into a FOOD STORE, that development went ahead without much Plaid Cymru opposition , and must have, in the current opinion of Plaid Councillor Colin Mann, Caerphilly Council`s Plaid Cymru`s economic guru, contribute towards to current demise, being experienced by Caerphilly town Centre Traders. Perhaps he has learned his lessons from Caerphilly town`s experiences. I am sure the last thing this senior Caerphilly Councillor or his Plaid Cymru Council members want is to be hypocritical, so, can we all assume that sometime between allowing the Caerphilly Supermarket development a few years ago and not supporting the Blackwood application he and his colleagues have had a ` Damascus` moment.
All this argueing and getting us no-where!
It is my belief, that what is needed on the site is a store like The Range, which will have a varied list of products with confectionery being the only foodstuffs sold – but then, that's the same as any garage shop…