MACHYNLLETH councillors have backed plans for a Tesco superstore in the town, despite opposition continuing to gather pace.
Following the submission of a planning application from Tesco to Powys County Council, Machynlleth town councillors say the strong backing for the scheme is why they support the development, presuming outstanding issues on traffic and levels of radon at the site are clarified.
However, Montgomeryshire MP Lembit Opik says the development is “fraught with danger for the town” and environmental and political activist George Monbiot claims progression with the plans would be like “walking into disaster with our eyes wide open.”
Tesco says the 20,000 square feet store, which will include a pharmacy, would create approximately 140 jobs in the town.
Lembit Opik said: “Is this even a proportionate development for the town? The sheer size of the proposal dwarfs other supermarkets in the area.
“I have major concerns of the wholesale effect that supermarkets are creating. Businesses will suffer or close. The plans are fraught with danger.”
46-year-old George Monbiot, who lives in Machynlleth, added: “Many of the tragedies that befall us are unpredictable. But today we are facing a tragedy that has already been mapped out.
“In 1998 the British government published the most comprehensive study ever undertaken of the impact of new superstores on market towns. The report precisely describes our situation: a small market town contemplating a large edge-of-centre supermarket. It shows that this development will wreck Machynlleth.
“In the places it studied, convenience shops in the town centre lost between 21 per cent and 75 per cent of their market share. This directly and indirectly led to the closure of some town centre food retailers; increases in vacancy levels; and a general decline in the quality of the environment of the centre.
“In situations like ours, the report found, the principal effect of the new stores was to divert trade from the town centre to the edge-of-centre locations.
"There was a significant displacement of retailing activity from the town centres; principally as a result of the closure of the town’s main town centre foodstores. It shows us, in other words, exactly what will happen to our wonderful town.
"We can ignore these findings if we like, but in that case we’ll be walking into disaster with our eyes wide open.”
Despite Machynlleth Town Council coming out in support of plans for a Tesco in the town, a number of the councillors also expressed concern.
Cllr Gill Baldwin said she is “dreading” Tesco coming to Machynlleth, Cllr Bob Dunn said he would not stand in the way of the development but “there are concerns that need to be addressed”, while Cllr Glenda Jenkins, who supported the application on behalf of the residents who were in favour, complained that a representative originally told her the store would not include a pharmacy.