The impending closure of the Tesco store in Caerphilly town should act as a catalyst for bringing fresh impetus to the upper town centre area, according to a councillor.
But Councillor James Fussell, deputy Plaid Cymru group leader and a St Martin’s ward councillor, said that in the current financial climate he did not expect any public money to be made available.
Cllr Fussell said that through the town centre manager of Caerphilly County Borough, a plan of action has been set up to address the issues of the announced closure for the staff, as well as informing potentially interested business.
He said: “The agencies approached include use of a Welsh Government programme to assist the staff in finding new employment through supporting employers with grant funding. Locally the Welsh Innovation Centre for Enterprise (ICE) has been approached to provide training support and liaison with the same employees.”
Cllr Fussell said that having talked to businesses over the years, his biggest concern for the sustainability of the high street was the private rent charged for the buildings occupied, which is added to by business rates.
He added: “Some of the shops have to earn £30,000 before taking operational costs and wages into consideration.
“Independent owners have shown willing but find that although they may make a small income in reality they are working for the benefit of the landlord.”
Tesco is due to close the Cardiff Road store on April 4 this year, affecting 52 staff.
Is this the same Cllr Fussell who voted in favour of a national betting shop opening a branch in the old Co op holiday shop on Cardiff Road? Is this the type of “fresh impetus” that Caerphilly needs?
Yes that would be the same Cllr Fussell. Maybe time for a changing of the guard and some new ideas. The main problem is a lack of vision for the entire area between the railway station and Piccadilly Square. What’s is a that great big pile of stones in the middle? Oh right, the second biggest castle in Europe!! As I said, the lack of vision coming from the Council is what is failing Caerphilly.
It is good to see a Caerphilly Council ward Councillor “on the case”.
The problem for Councillor Fussell is not the current situation with the Tesco Store, that unemployment and deployment, potenticial problem, has already been handled, I am informed, in a very adventagous way for all dislaced staff working there. Those who want continued employment with Tesco have been offered it.
The problem for any County Councillor representing the Town on Caerphilly Council, as Councillor Fussell continues to do, is, that over the years the council have failed to deal with the quality of the top of town retail mix, allowing a proponderance of Betting Shops, nine pubs and clubs, ( all within 2000mtrs of each other) Estate Agents ( Offices in retail shop premises) Amusment Arcades, and banks, building societies, and Pawn shops, not to mention the Charity Shops and Hairdressers. With the absence of a Major Retailer to `anchor` retailing in the Top of Town, it is a dead duck.
The top of town commercial activity increasingly relies on the Night Time Economy, and that is particularly bad news for the thousands of residents living around the town,
Councillor fussell mentions a “Caerphilly Council PLAN OF ACTION” for the top of town, well, lets see it!!! no residents, who are, by a long way, the main shareholders in this town, have ever been consulted on this PLAN OF ACTION, by the Caerphilly Council or By Councillor Fussell or his colleagues, and so far as I can check, neither has the Town Council, in public meetings which residents can follow, been consulted.
And in case anyone blames The Town Centre Manager for this lack of residents consultation of the effects of this civic disgrace, his role SPECIFICALLY states that he owes no responsibility to residents for the work he does in the town, how do the Council square that particular circle???. And finally, in case people dont know, the person reponsible for regeneration issues in this town is Cabinet Member Councillor Ken James, I wonder when he will be making a statement on the Councils “Plan of Action” and including the main stakeholders in the town, (residents) in his plans???.
Im gutted Tesco is closing as I live in town and use the store almost everyday. I hate the fact that Cardiff road looks like a post apocalyptic distopia on a Sunday mornining. This is happening all over the country and is the result ( in part ) of a culture change and isn’t impossible to change but would be difficult. It would also be expensive and our entire country is broke. So what’s the answer?
Im gutted Tesco is closing as I live in town and use the store almost everyday. I hate the fact that Cardiff road looks like a post apocalyptic distopia on a Sunday mornining. This is happening all over the country and is the result ( in part ) of a culture change and isn’t impossible to change but would be difficult. It would also be expensive and our entire country is broke. So what’s the answer?
Yes that would be the same Cllr Fussell. Maybe time for a changing of the guard and some new ideas. The main problem is a lack of vision for the entire area between the railway station and Piccadilly Square. What’s is a that great big pile of stones in the middle? Oh right, the second biggest castle in Europe!! As I said, the lack of vision coming from the Council is what is failing Caerphilly.