Supermarket giant Tesco has been forced to scrap its plans for a new superstore in a Powys town.

Government officials have ruled that its planning application for Machynlleth should be dropped on safety grounds, but Tesco bosses said they hoped to submit a fresh bid in the near future.

It comes after the Welsh Assembly Government directed Powys County Council to refuse the plans for the supermarket at Heol y Doll, saying it would lead to more road accidents.

John Evans, for Powys County Council, said: “The council received a TR110 form from the Welsh Assembly Government directing refusal on highways grounds in relation to the Tesco development in Machynlleth. Tesco withdrew its application for the store on Tuesday.”

The supermarket chain has been working on coming to Machynlleth for more than a year and wants to build a 27,000sq ft store.

Targeted

Tesco bosses said the move would allow food expenditure to be retained in the town rather than in rival towns and create a total of 140 jobs.

But plans have split views in the town, some residents are all for the idea but others fear it would put small shops out of business.

Last summer, some of the town’s shops were targeted by people throwing eggs at their windows because of a row over the development.

A Tesco spokesman said a public consultation held last year showed 79 per cent of residents were in favour of the proposed store.

He said: “We have withdrawn the current planning application for Tesco in Machynlleth but hope to resubmit a new one in the very near future.”

Councillor Michael Williams, of Machynlleth, said: “A lot of people have told me that we as a town just couldn’t afford not to have these 140 jobs come to Machynlleth.

“And I feel we will need a very good reason on why we should refuse this application, obviously this was a good enough reason because it was on safety grounds,” he added.

“Now all we can do is wait and see what Tesco come back with.”

By Anwen Evans