National retailer Sports Direct is to open in the former premises of Tesco in Caerphilly town centre.
Caerphilly County Borough Council has confirmed that the empty store on Cardiff Road has been let to Sports Direct, one of the UK’s leading sports retailers.
Work to adapt the store for the new tenant will begin in mid-July with an opening scheduled for August.
Cllr Ken James, Caerphilly’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration welcomed the announcement.
He said: “This is fantastic news for Caerphilly and it is great to hear that this key site will be brought back into use again after becoming vacant earlier this year. Sports Direct will bring a range of full and part time jobs in the town and we now look forward to welcoming the team to Caerphilly.”
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Tesco for their help and involvement in this process over the last few months.”
Tesco closed its Metro store on Cardiff Road in April this year after it said it was unprofitable.
The closure affected around 50 staff.
Discount retailer Sports Direct is owned by billionaire businessman Mike Ashley – the controversial owner of Newcastle United football club.
Good News for the town,? maybe, But since when has Sports Direct been considered as `an anchor merchandiser store`?. Which is clearly what is needed in the top of town.
Good News for the town,? maybe, But since when has Sports Direct been considered as `an anchor merchandiser store`?. Which is clearly what is needed in the top of town.
One of the biggest employers in the UK using zero Hours employees contracts, lets hope this development is welcomed by Trade Unions, particularly UNITE , and all other Trade Unions, and, all those union endorsed AM`s and MP`s.
I think Sports direct coming to Caerphilly is a good idea but not at Old Tesco. People who shopped in old Tesco did so because of convenience and locality. This created business for other stores there and also made the town look more lively during the day.
Anyone who’s been to Caerphilly ever since the closure of Tesco would of noticed the drop in those aspects.Think a store similar to Tesco would of been the right choice, not everyone can travel out of town to do their daily shopping and the locality of stores like Tesco’s is forcing people to do so. Unless Caerphilly Council would like to drop the fare prices of buses to answer the problem otherwise this is not the right way to go.
I think Sports direct coming to Caerphilly is a good idea but not at Old Tesco. People who shopped in old Tesco did so because of convenience and locality. This created business for other stores there and also made the town look more lively during the day.
Anyone who’s been to Caerphilly ever since the closure of Tesco would of noticed the drop in those aspects.Think a store similar to Tesco would of been the right choice, not everyone can travel out of town to do their daily shopping and the locality of stores like Tesco’s is forcing people to do so. Unless Caerphilly Council would like to drop the fare prices of buses to answer the problem otherwise this is not the right way to go.
Sports Direct will not bring people to Caerphilly and it will close down with 5 years. There is a Sports Direct in Llantrisant which is spread over two floors, has lots of other shops surrounding it, and has plenty of parking in front of the shop. As someone who shops at Sports Direct I will still use my car to drive 10 minutes to Llantrisant where I will have more choice of what to buy.
Now, I expect some of you to be prepping your comments about not everyone being able to drive to Llantrisant, while this is true, the point is irrelevant. The majority of people have access to a car and the number of people who cannot drive or catch the bus is not enough to sustain a sports shop in Caerphilly. Tesco could not make a profit at the location and their customer base would have been larger than a shop whose customer base is the amateur sports person.
Sports Direct will not bring people to Caerphilly and it will close down with 5 years. There is a Sports Direct in Llantrisant which is spread over two floors, has lots of other shops surrounding it, and has plenty of parking in front of the shop. As someone who shops at Sports Direct I will still use my car to drive 10 minutes to Llantrisant where I will have more choice of what to buy.
Now, I expect some of you to be prepping your comments about not everyone being able to drive to Llantrisant, while this is true, the point is irrelevant. The majority of people have access to a car and the number of people who cannot drive or catch the bus is not enough to sustain a sports shop in Caerphilly. Tesco could not make a profit at the location and their customer base would have been larger than a shop whose customer base is amateur sports people.
Not exactly what Caerphilly town centre needs, a Sainsburys or a Lidl would have made more sense, but this is Caerphilly and sense is something the Borough is short of.
Not exactly what Caerphilly town centre needs, a Sainsburys or a Lidl would have made more sense, but this is Caerphilly and sense is something the Borough is short of.
Didn’t there used to be a sports direct shop in castle court which closed down a year or two ago? This new store will not be welcomed by JD Sports which will probably close within the next 12 months. Sports Direct is not really the type of store that will attract shoppers into Caerphilly, the council really should be offering cheaper short term leases on empty shops to encourage small businesses who will bring something different and appealing to the town centre – rather than another low end discount tat shop. A Waitrose would have been better, that would attract people into Caerphilly.
Why would wealthier people from outside Caerphilly drive into Caerphilly, struggle to park, and shop in Caerphilly when they could drive to Pontprennau and have parking right outside?
There are plenty of wealthy folk who live in and around Caerphilly. Rudry, Dreathen and Waterloo has plenty who would welcome a Waitrose, there’s even a few Machen residents who like to believe they’re part of the countryside gentry and would shop at Waitrose just for the snob factor. But yes I agree with you that it’s easier to drive somewhere else if parking is better, and those who can afford to shop at Waitrose can shop online and have it delivered.
Didn’t there used to be a sports direct shop in castle court which closed down a year or two ago? This new store will not be welcomed by JD Sports which will probably close within the next 12 months. Sports Direct is not really the type of store that will attract shoppers into Caerphilly, the council really should be offering cheaper short term leases on empty shops to encourage small businesses who will bring something different and appealing to the town centre – rather than another low end discount tat shop. A Waitrose would have been better, that would attract people into Caerphilly.
Why would wealthier people from outside Caerphilly drive into Caerphilly, struggle to park, and shop in Caerphilly when they could drive to Pontprennau and have parking right outside?
There are plenty of wealthy folk who live in and around Caerphilly. But yes I agree with you that it’s easier to drive somewhere else if parking is better, and I surpose those who can afford to shop at Waitrose can shop online and have it delivered.
I agree with Paul, we want a Waitrose in the town centre.
I too would like a Waitrose but people living in one of the poorest boroughs in the UK is not going to be able to afford shopping at one of the most expensive shops in the UK.
I agree, Waitrose is not going to come to this town any time soon, for exactly the same reasons Marks & Spencer will not open here.
You were elected as a Ratepayer Clone to make Caerphilly better, talking it down doesn’t help.
I never avoid facts John, do you think that Caerffili is in a sad condition gives me any pleasure?
A bit unfair comment John when your prefered political elected reprepresentatives, Plaid Cymru, fully represent the Town on Caerphilly Borough Council, do you feel they also share responsibilty for the towns demise,? and lets not forget they have also had total and complete control of the Borough council in recent years.
It is the delusion from people who bury their heads in the sand over Caerphilly who halt progress. The facts are Caerphilly is seeing an increase in poverty, a decrease in real wages, home to mostly unskilled workers, and has the poorest ward in the UK. While there are some wealthier parts they are not enough to justify a Waitrose, or to talk Caerphilly up.
Correct, if people want to read stories of how everything in Caerffili is going well then try Rhymney Valley Newsline, not the Caerphilly Observer where issues are discussed.
Personally I think the town is deteriorating, police station replaced by a little shop, Law Courts going, historic buildings being torn down, skill base in decline and low wages for many. To suggest that a blue chip, expensive, food shop is going to find an ugly ex Tesco building an attractive business proposition is far fetched.
Our town will only get this type of shop when the townspeople are more prosperous, something I would like to see but is not on the cards at the moment.
I agree with Paul, we want a Waitrose in the town centre.
I too would like a Waitrose but people living in one of the poorest boroughs in the UK is not going to be able to afford shopping at one of the most expensive shops in the UK.
I agree, Waitrose is not going to come to this town any time soon, for exactly the same reasons Marks & Spencer will not open here.
You were elected as a Ratepayer Clone to make Caerphilly better, talking it down doesn’t help.
I never avoid facts John, do you think that Caerffili is in a sad condition gives me any pleasure?
A bit unfair comment John when your prefered political elected reprepresentatives, Plaid Cymru, fully represent the Town on Caerphilly Borough Council, do you feel they also share responsibilty for the towns demise,? and lets not forget they have also had total and complete control of the Borough council in recent years.
It is the delusion from people who bury their heads in the sand over Caerphilly who halt progress. The facts are Caerphilly is seeing an increase in poverty, a decrease in real wages, home to mostly unskilled workers, and has the poorest ward in the UK. While there are some wealthier parts they are not enough to justify a Waitrose, or to talk Caerphilly up.
Correct, if people want to read stories of how everything in Caerffili is going well then try Rhymney Valley Newsline, not the Caerphilly Observer where issues are discussed.
Personally I think the town is deteriorating, police station replaced by a little shop, Law Courts going, historic buildings being torn down, skill base in decline and low wages for many. To suggest that a blue chip, expensive, food shop is going to find an ugly ex Tesco building an attractive business proposition is far fetched.
Our town will only get this type of shop when the townspeople are more prosperous, something I would like to see but is not on the cards at the moment.
I cannot see this venture being successful, but you never know. What it will not do is help the Southern end of the town and the businesses located there. I find it ironic that Tesco came to the town forty years ago, helped shut down the plethora of family run and minor chain shops that used to operate there. Now they have left, leaving a gap in the provision of food shopping that will be difficult to fill.
There is a lesson there for towns who allow massive companies to move into the high street. Crickhowell, where currently all the shops are small businesses, is contemplating allowing the ‘Corn Exchange’ pub to be converted into a supermarket. The powers that be need to take a look at what has happened in Caerffili before they make a decision.
I cannot see this venture being successful, but you never know. What it will not do is help the Southern end of the town and the businesses located there. I find it ironic that Tesco came to the town forty years ago, helped shut down the plethora of family run and minor chain shops that used to operate there. Now they have left, leaving a gap in the provision of food shopping that will be difficult to fill.
There is a lesson there for towns who allow massive companies to move into the high street. Crickhowell, where currently all the shops are small businesses, is contemplating allowing the ‘Corn Exchange’ pub to be converted into a supermarket. The powers that be need to take a look at what has happened in Caerffili before they make a decision.
Caerphilly Council regeneration staff will have considered all the negative aspects of Sports Direct opening up a store in the town.
Even if they had identified it may have a negative impact on some existing businesses, there was nothing they could or can do about it, however, if Sports Direct and the Council negotiated certain `terms` to attract them to this location, and, in the due process of time we see the demise of a number of what are, easily identifiable, independent small trader target opposition stores, then the Council, will be held to account.
The Bagz Shop will be a target.
Any local shops selling trainers and t-shirts and associated leisure wear.
The local Sports Shops in Bartlett Street.and the bottom of town.
This shop will, as highlighted by Dean`s comment, have to rely on a huge increase in footfall, and not, a full car park, the staff will overfill that. At least the lowest paid Council workers earn more than those working in Sports Direct Shops.So it should not be wlecome as responsible, employer paying proper wages on proper contracts, perhaps the money taken from the local economy will be used to prop up some English Football club somewhere or other.
Caerphilly Council regeneration staff will have considered all the negative aspects of Sports Direct opening up a store in the town.
Even if they had identified it may have a negative impact on some existing businesses, there was nothing they could or can do about it, however, if Sports Direct and the Council negotiated certain `terms` to attract them to this location, and, in the due process of time we see the demise of a number of what are, easily identifiable, independent small trader target opposition stores, then the Council, will be held to account.
The Bagz Shop will be a target.
Any local shops selling trainers and t-shirts and associated leisure wear.
The local Sports Shops in Bartlett Street.and the bottom of town.
This shop will, as highlighted by Dean`s comment, have to rely on a huge increase in footfall, and not, a full car park, the staff will overfill that. At least the lowest paid Council workers earn more than those working in Sports Direct Shops.So it should not be wlecome as responsible, employer paying proper wages on proper contracts, perhaps the money taken from the local economy will be used to prop up some English Football club somewhere or other.
Would be nice to see the top of town busy. Shops closing everyday.. Let’s hope it helps,
Did you know Caerphilly has a indoor market!!
The top of town will never be busy. The top of town should close down completely to make room for offices or homes. The days of the high street are numbered as online shopping and out-of-town centres open up.
Yes, I’ve heard that bloody story for forty years and fought it twice, to personal cost. I wonder who will finance and build these offices and homes, and what will happen go the people who live in the existing houses. Caerphilly has a great castle surrounded by lakes and parks, a very desirable residential area. Sadly we have successive councils with no vision, who in the past have colluded with development companies who want to build hotels, conference centres, car parks around the castle, on the green area, and nice executive houses in place of the existing homes. Besides which, the era of out of town shopping centres is on its way out, being of a suspicious nature, I wonder if Dean Cooperfield-West has an hidden agenda in his comments.
Effort must be made to limit the number of houses knocked down but if houses are knocked down compulsory purchase orders with fair compensation can be used.
The top of Caerphilly can become a massive car park making it easier for people to visit Caerphilly and the road leading through the centre of town must become fully pedestrianised to allow people to safely walk around town. When these changes have been made it will be easier for people to visit, and shops will be more willing to open up in the town centre. The parking will have the added bonus of increased popularity for events like the Big Cheese as people can easily visit (there does need to be changed with the Big Cheese though). Parking will have the Town centres will only survive when they start to become out-of-town centres.
It is frankly naive to think Caerphilly town centre can survive in its current form. Out-of-town shopping centres and internet shopping are beginning. Within 10 years the days of walking through town shopping will be over, and most big high street retailers would have entered administration. Amazon is already starting to dominate the market in technology sales and household goods. As cities and towns expand there will increasingly be residential-only areas where all shops are located outside of town with lots of parking around. Schools, as they have already started to, will follow. The days of a local village primary school with a secondary school for a couple of villages are over. Schools will be built outside residential areas with people commuting.
In short, there is a trend where commercialiation and residentialisation are forever separating themselves geographically.
So there is a hidden agenda, is there to ” redevelop” the southern part of Caerphilly, nice of you to let us know.
complete B.ll.cks of course.
What happens to all the people working in these shops etc you want knocked down to build offices ( there are plenty of Empty offices in Wales) and homes for people when there aren’t going to be enough jobs so people won’t need houses closer to cardiff!!!
Where?
Pentrebane street
Sorry Louise I was being sarcastic, sorry.
I agree that money needs to be spent on this facility, the CCBC should support not just the owners but all those small businesses trying to make a living and provide facilities for the towns shoppers,
Five years ago the Council should have purchased this building at Auction, they then should have invested in it to make it a show piece venue for small businesses, the then Plaid Cymru Council refused to do so, and the rest his history.
Yes Louise,but its in a a really bad state, I get depressed every time I go in there. I think someone has a long term plan to gut and rebuild the centre of Caerphilly, and Tesco closing and the planned run down of the Cardiff Road bis part of it.
I know for a fact the owners are looking for local trades people to help revamp it so let’s hope it happens sooner rather than later
Is that what you call it looks like a consentration camp .
Would be nice to see the top of town busy. Shops closing everyday.. Let’s hope it helps,
Did you know Caerphilly has a indoor market!!
The top of town will never be busy. The top of town should close down completely to make room for offices or homes. The days of the high street are numbered as online shopping and out-of-town centres open up.
Yes, I’ve heard that bloody story for forty years and fought it twice, to personal cost. I wonder who will finance and build these offices and homes, and what will happen go the people who live in the existing houses. Caerphilly has a great castle surrounded by lakes and parks, a very desirable residential area. Sadly we have successive councils with no vision, who in the past have colluded with development companies who want to build hotels, conference centres, car parks around the castle, on the green area, and nice executive houses in place of the existing homes. Besides which, the era of out of town shopping centres is on its way out, being of a suspicious nature, I wonder if Dean Cooperfield-West has an hidden agenda in his comments.
Effort must be made to limit the number of houses knocked down but if houses are knocked down compulsory purchase orders with fair compensation can be used.
The top of Caerphilly can become a massive car park making it easier for people to visit Caerphilly and the road leading through the centre of town must become fully pedestrianised to allow people to safely walk around town. When these changes have been made it will be easier for people to visit, and shops will be more willing to open up in the town centre. The parking will have the added bonus of increased popularity for events like the Big Cheese as people can easily visit (there does need to be changed with the Big Cheese though). Parking will have the Town centres will only survive when they start to become out-of-town centres.
The sooner the plans to rebuild the entire centre of Caerphilly past the Twyn Carpark are finalised the better.
It is frankly naive to think Caerphilly town centre can survive in its current form. Out-of-town shopping centres and internet shopping are beginning. Within 10 years the days of walking through town shopping will be over, and most big high street retailers would have entered administration. Amazon is already starting to dominate the market in technology sales and household goods. As cities and towns expand there will increasingly be residential-only areas where all shops are located outside of town with lots of parking around. Schools, as they have already started to, will follow. The days of a local village primary school with a secondary school for a couple of villages are over. Schools will be built outside residential areas with people commuting.
In short, there is a trend where commercialiation and residentialisation are forever separating themselves geographically.
So there is a hidden agenda, is there to ” redevelop” the southern part of Caerphilly, nice of you to let us know.
complete B.ll.cks of course.
What happens to all the people working in these shops etc you want knocked down to build offices ( there are plenty of Empty offices in Wales) and homes for people when there aren’t going to be enough jobs so people won’t need houses closer to cardiff!!!
Where?
Pentrebane street
Sorry Louise I was being sarcastic, sorry.
I agree that money needs to be spent on this facility, the CCBC should support not just the owners but all those small businesses trying to make a living and provide facilities for the towns shoppers,
Five years ago the Council should have purchased this building at Auction, they then should have invested in it to make it a show piece venue for small businesses, the then Plaid Cymru Council refused to do so, and the rest his history.
Yes Louise,but its in a a really bad state, I get depressed every time I go in there. I think someone has a long term plan to gut and rebuild the centre of Caerphilly, and Tesco closing and the planned run down of the Cardiff Road bis part of it.
I know for a fact the owners are looking for local trades people to help revamp it so let’s hope it happens sooner rather than later
Is that what you call it looks like a consentration camp .
I struggle to see how a councillor who is a member of a socialist party with ties to the unions can call the announcement “fantastic news for Caerphilly.” There is a phenomenal level of hypocrisy present to criticise zero-hour contract, the low minimum wage, and sweatshops and then welcome in a firm doing everything you supposedly hate.
However, we all know the real reason. Cllr. Ken James is happy to praise anything he has a hand in as it looks good on him. The truth is Sports Direct is being offered extremely favourable terms by the council and Ken James cannot be seen to be failing. Ken James in incompetent at his job, does not understand the changing markets, and is willing to put his personal standing before his principles. He is nothing but a self-centred invertebrate; the Mr Bean of the council whose achievements match the boy at school who glued down his egg.
I struggle to see how a councillor who is a member of a socialist party with ties to the unions can call the announcement “fantastic news for Caerphilly.” There is a phenomenal level of hypocrisy present to criticise zero-hour contract, the low minimum wage, and sweatshops and then welcome in a firm doing everything you supposedly hate.
However, we all know the real reason. Cllr. Ken James is happy to praise anything he has a hand in as it looks good on him. The truth is Sports Direct is being offered extremely favourable terms by the council and Ken James cannot be seen to be failing. Ken James in incompetent at his job, does not understand the changing markets, and is willing to put his personal standing before his principles. He is nothing but a self-centred invertebrate; the Mr Bean of the council whose achievements match the boy at school who glued down his egg.
Where are the comments and views from local Plaid Cymru Ward Members, representing the town. They have a responsibility to join this debate, particularly when some comments contain such critical opposition to the Caerphilly Council`s role in this affair. Come to think of it, where is the defence to all this critisism from the Cabinet Member for regeneration who is fronting and lauding the news about Sports Direct involvment in this Community, surely its time already to answer some of these comments and defend the Council`s position.
Where are the comments and views from local Plaid Cymru Ward Members, representing the town. They have a responsibility to join this debate, particularly when some comments contain such critical opposition to the Caerphilly Council`s role in this affair. Come to think of it, where is the defence to all this critisism from the Cabinet Member for regeneration who is fronting and lauding the news about Sports Direct involvment in this Community, surely its time already to answer some of these comments and defend the Council`s position.
I’ve lived in the centre of Caerphilly for 44 years_ when I moved in Cardiff Road was a vibrant shopping centre, and an asset to the town. I appreciate the town has grown, and more retail space has had to be provided, but developments like ASDA, Morrison’s and the out of town Tesco, mean you need a car to get to them. The planning department in CCBC, don’t have a clue in how to make Caerphilly work as aa town.
I’ve lived in the centre of Caerphilly for 44 years_ when I moved in Cardiff Road was a vibrant shopping centre, and an asset to the town. I appreciate the town has grown, and more retail space has had to be provided, but developments like ASDA, Morrison’s and the out of town Tesco, mean you need a car to get to them. The planning department in CCBC, don’t have a clue in how to make Caerphilly work as aa town.
Caerphilly cbc don’t care what goes in these places “anyone will do” they are useless. Ken James was a good teacher but has been a disaster as a councillor. They could not care less about Blackwood town either.
Caerphilly cbc don’t care what goes in these places “anyone will do” they are useless. Ken James was a good teacher but has been a disaster as a councillor. They could not care less about Blackwood town either.