Ghost town fears over Tesco move
TRADERS have warned that Port Talbot will become a ghost town if Tesco's huge new superstore is allowed to go ahead.
They fear shoppers will desert the town centre in favour of the retail giant's proposed store near the railway station.
Planning chiefs will call on councillors to throw out Tesco's application when they meet tomorrow.
Aberafan Shopping Centre manager Steve Redmore urged them to go along with that call. He said: "Tesco's current store, which opened in 1998, provides an anchor role in bringing people into the town centre."
Tesco wants to shut its existing store and redevelop it into three smaller shops, one of them a Tesco Express. It says the new superstore would meet the expectations of shoppers, create 300 jobs and protect the livelihoods of the 250 workers at the current store.
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by jocmo, port talbot
Thursday, June 18 2009, 8:48AM
“As a retailer in Port Talbot i do see the concerns, of many people. For the scheme to work successfully the links from the proposed site to the existing town need to be easily accessable with a link that looks like part of the integeral part of the town. Some one mentioned Asda I have heard inside rumblings that Asda do have a site in Port Talbot planned any one else heard ?”
by Lesley, Port Talbot
Tuesday, June 16 2009, 12:43PM
“Totally agree with the comments about the electircal goods and the limited choice of retailers that sell them in PT. A new store with a wider choice of both groceries and 'white goods' will be a draw, yes, but customers dont have any choice at the moment and will still go out of town, or online, to buy what they need and spend their money in another town. I know I do and it's a shame, I'd rather spend locally, and the Council cant see this. The point about people only being able to driver there is not entirely true, however pedestrians would have to walk over the railway line as one possible route - footbridge over the line was taken down some time ago now and not replaced. Buses could easily change routes to accomodate also.
Every 'improvement' made in PT whether it be new road layouts / traffic management always ends up worse that what was being replaced.
Rant over but COME ON TESCO DONT GIVE UP ON PT :-)”
by SJP, Neath
Tuesday, June 09 2009, 12:23PM
“To Justin:
Whenever I stroll down Station Road, I always think to myself "This street has got some soul. It would be a damn shame if some megacorporation came along and took it away".
Except, I don't. Fair enough if it was a charming little town to start with, but no offence, out of PT's many qualities, charm is not one of them.”
by SJP, Neath
Tuesday, June 09 2009, 12:19PM
“At the moment, trying to get through that part of Port Talbot in the morning (especially Saturday) is an absolute nightmare.
Moving it to what is effectively the other end of Station Road and taking advantage of the new docks roads the council have put in makes so much more sense.
Port Talbot town centre died in the 70s, the irony being it was the council that knocked it down and not the Luftwaffe! (that leveled most of Swansea).
It's creating jobs, makes things more convenient and is not exactly ruining the surroundings. There are no negatives to this move.”
by justin, london
Monday, June 08 2009, 8:15PM
“Lets not fool ourselves Tescos is a part of the problem, The biggest is the inexplicable greed by councils levying rates far beyond the ability to pay by shop owners. This is a excercise we are seeing around the country, Double yellow lines and minimal parking space makes Tescos a kind of cherry on the cake. If you can imagine a high street made up of local businesses with local people you usually get a charming result. Tescos will give 300 jobs and take the soul away one you see the other disappears like it never did exists. Its true maybe it is too late to protest but It is suspicious when people with the gift of thought use their understanding like a PR generator.”