D-Day looming for decision on supermarkets
GORSEINON residents will this week find out whether two supermarkets will be built in the town.
Applications from Asda and Aldi will go in front of Swansea Council's planning committee on Thursday.
A decision on whether to allow Asda to build a £25 million store at Heol y Mynydd will bring a long drawn out saga to a close.
Plans submitted by the supermarket giant owned by Wal-Mart were refused in 2005 and then again in 2007 on the grounds that there was no need for a shop of that size and that it could have a detrimental effect on the town.
An appeal to the Welsh Assembly was dismissed in June 2008.
Re-submitted and revised plans have been dogged by deferrals, which have frustrated both supporters and opposers of the store.
It was due to be considered at a special meeting in May, it was then put back to June, but has only now been put on the committee's agenda.
Speaking earlier this year, Chris Marlow, Asda's property communications manager, said the delays had been frustrating for all supporters.
He said: "We fully appreciate that the planning system can be complex and that decisions cannot be rushed but this planning application was submitted with a wealth of supporting information — all of the information that could reasonably be expected — and we, like so many residents, hoped that a decision would be made as soon as possible."
Gorseinon Town Council voted in favour of the application, and the majority of people at the council's planning meeting supported the revised plans — a complete turnaround compared with the reaction when Asda submitted its initial application four years ago.
However, not everyone has been so supportive. Gorseinon Chamber of Trade had vehemently opposed the plans.
Spokesman Phillip Sillick said: "I still oppose this on the same grounds as before. It poses a detrimental effect on the traders in Gorseinon and I'm concerned over the traffic pollution, in particular High Street and the lower end of Gorseinon."
The application for the Aldi store proposed for the old Bryngwyn Works sitehad a less negative reaction from the Chamber of Trade.
Mr Sillick, who plans to attend the planning committee meeting on Thursday, said: "We tentatively agree — it's only a small store and it won't have the same impact as a huge store such as Asda and it's at the edge of Gorseinon."
The planning meeting will take place at 2pm in Swansea Civic Centre.
11 Comments
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by S, Swansea
Friday, August 21 2009, 11:49AM
“I'm surprised at how slow the EP is in reporting the result yesterday. Asda's been approved - good news for people who hate Sommerfield!”
by anon, gorseinon
Thursday, August 20 2009, 8:54PM
“I hear that congratulations is in order for ASDA coming to Gorseinon - Excellent news for Gorseinon a decent supermarket and hundreds of jobs for the area. Well done ASDA!!!!!”
by anon, Gorseinon
Wednesday, August 19 2009, 7:28PM
“Okay L Davies we will all pollute the ozone by driving to Llanelli and Fforestfach. It is about time Gorseinon had a good supermarket and we dont have to drive and pollute the ozone. I CANNOT WAIT FOR ASDA TO COME TO GORSEINON. GOOD LUCK ASDA”
by L Davies, Gorseinon
Tuesday, August 18 2009, 10:13PM
“I sincerely hope Asda does not get the go ahead to create a store in Gorseinon. It would cause more job losses than it created, with loss of business for the many shops on the high street, butchers, fruit/veg shops, electrical, as well as the market and existing supermarkets - somerfield, sainsbury's, farmfoods and lidl.
Those that support it are very blinkered, or too lazy to pop up the road to tesco fforestfach or to asda, morrisons and tesco at Trostre.”
by neil, loughor
Tuesday, August 18 2009, 6:36PM
“roll on asda and aldi. i hope the meeting on thursday is the result everybody is waiting for. more jobs for local people and less travel for weekly shop OUTSIDE of local area.”
by Steve, Mayals, Swansea
Tuesday, August 18 2009, 4:55PM
“At a time of high crime rates and increasing numbers of disenfranchised youth, we should be doing all we can to bolster and vitalize traditional shopping centres and communities, not destroy them. Yes, there will be certain economic benefits in allowing these supermarkets to open in Gorseinon or else where in the city. However, we should not base planning decisions on economics alone, but also consider their impact on the overall well being of a community. Only the small Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan seems to have realized that mere economic development does not translate into socially stable nation. There, economic benefits are merely one part of the jigsaw of the nation's development - and it seems to be working. According to a study by Leicester University, the kingdom was ranked the seventh most content nation on the planet. I hope the council use foresight and consider the matter from a broad and long term prospective, not merely from a point of making some short term gains.”
by Rachel, Gorseinon
Tuesday, August 18 2009, 4:23PM
“ASDA will bring trade back to the village after the council have messed it up with their new traffic lights. The sooner the better i say.”
by craig, Swansea
Tuesday, August 18 2009, 10:21AM
“A recent pole conducted in the area of Gorseinon my the European Union revealed that 87.3 people where currently happy with their current currency rather than the Euro. So there are no plans to change from the Giro.”
by Anon, Gorseinon
Tuesday, August 18 2009, 9:07AM
“I don't think Asda or Aldi should come to Gorseinon, and I hope they never do. There is no reason for it when there is already a Sainbury, Somerfield, Lidl and Farmfoods. It will become a supermarket central. Tesco is only up the road in Fforestfach also. Absolute waste of time, I can't see why people think ANOTHER supermarket, particularly a cheap undesirable one such as ASDA, within a half mile radius is a good thing. Yes it would create jobs but people in the other Gorseinon shops would no doubt lose thiers because ASDA would suck the life out of them, as well as being an overbearing eyesore. The current supermarkets in gorseinon fit in with it's ethos, they are quaint and unimposing.”
by Claire, Gorseinon
Tuesday, August 18 2009, 7:42AM
“I completely agree with Paul -Asda and Aldi would only bring jobs and more trade to Gorseinon. As for affecting current traders - there is nothing in Gorseinon High street except for Estate Agents, Charity Shops and Take Aways - how exactly will Asda affect these? Nobody questioned Sainsbury's opening??”