Letter: New superstore will damage Oswestry
Saturday 3rd July 2010, 7:48AM BST.
Letter: We believe that any new superstore in Oswestry will be highly damaging for this market town.
However, Shropshire Council planners have said that the “fifth option”, ie that of not building a new superstore in Oswestry, cannot be considered by the Strategic Planning Committee when it meets on July 29.
Technically they are correct, but it is also correct that none of the four bids for retail development in Oswestry needs to be approved by the committee.
There have been suggestions that the current applicants are engaged in a “beauty contest” and the best scheme will be app-roved. This is not the case.
While planning rules favour centre of town developments, each application must be judged on its individual merits. Planners must also examine the impact of development on existing retail provision, especially the small shops in the town centre, and whether the development is needed.
Shropshire Council’s own consultants are absolutely clear that no large-scale retail development is required in Oswestry for at least six years, and our own analysis suggests that it will be several years beyond that, if at all, before another superstore is needed.
The Strategic Planning Committee has the option of rejecting all four applications. This is the best option for the vitality of Oswestry as a market town. The committee must not feel pressurised into accepting one of the schemes just because there are four rivals.
It must make decisions on the basis of what is best for Oswestry. This is the fifth option — no more large scale retail development.
The Oswestry Coalition
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In reply to the Oswestry Coalition, Oswestry does need new development. The town needs a cinema, there is no entertainment in the town apart from pubs. Young and old alike would benefit from having a cinema.
The existing supermarkets do fill a need but only offer a choice of basic goods. Many people from Oswestry already travel to Wrexham and Shrewsbury for food shopping. Oswestry is growing, how many new houses have been built in the last ten years?
The development should not be on the existing town centre car park. The congestion this would cause while being built would drive people away from the town centre. Also the effects on the residents around the car park would make life very difficult for them.
Why not let the towns people decide what they want and where? We are the ones who will be using the new development.
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Lyn in reply to your comments, Yes, I to would like to see a cinema, but not bolted to a supermarket,If the planners want to build a cinema, they would, but they will not unless you let them have their supermarket(to me thats called blackmail).
You say the current s/markets offer only the basics,well they seem to have all I need, including going to some of the independants.
Then you say you do not want it on central carpark,current planning regulation guidelines put the carpark as best placed for a development.
You mention about the effects to residents, the only one that I see that would not have an effect on the residents would be the smithfield site (which is way out of town for many people who do not drive).
Finally, to get into perspective, remembering to have a cinema you get a s/market,It would great that we ask the people of oswestry if they would like a one or not. Can you see shropshire council doing that, affraid not.
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all this argument is, is about “Need” No one in the country NEEDS a supermarket, they WANT it, that’s why Oswestry must have a new supermarket and cinema development, because people WANT to have more choice, they don’t NEED it. might as well have that choice here instead of Wrexham and Shrewsbury.
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Oswestry does need another supermarket. But as above not in the middle of the town. I, along with lots of others, travel to wrexham or shrewsbury most of the time to shop. As both are better than oswestry,where i have lived all of my life (40 odd years now). Tescos or Adsa would be best for the people of Oswestry. As Morrisons took over the Sumerfield store and it had gotten worse (I did not think it could have).
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In regards to lyns comments, You say we need a cinema, yes we do, Yes the developers are willing to build us a cinema, but they will want to have their supermarket as well, in my eyes that blackmail.
As for choice, I do not know what you shop for and can not get in town, but the current s/markets and independants they cater for our needs.
To the development, I am affraid that current planning laws, put the central car park as the ideal site for any development of this sort. You then say about the disruption for the residents, out of the four the only one that would not have the most impact on the residents would be the smithfied market plan, so that is to far out of town, and could cause problems for those who can not drive and walk to far.
Finally yes, I agree that the people of oswestry should have a vote on all five plans, but try and get shropshire council to do that, affraid not.
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I left Oswestry many years ago, but having family in the area regularly return and one of the main items of conversation is the need for Oswestry to have a good supermarket that will not only stop Oswestrians from going elsewhere to shop but will encourage other people to shop here. I travel all over the country, have lived in many places and have seen so many towns similar to Oswestry left to rot because of the narrow mindedness of individuals who whilst trying to ‘save’ their town have effectively ruined it. It’s what people want that matters and they want a good supermarket that meets their needs, after all it’s only a short drive to Wrexham or Shrewsbury if their needs are not met and at the moment they are not.
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What can you get in the supermarkets of Shrewsbury and Wrexham that you can’t get in Oswestry?
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Greater variety and lower prices.
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Agreed, we need an Asda’s!!
The central car park idea is laughable, who the hell would want a cinema here when its only going to be 1 screen! ha, good luck getting the blockbusters on, the only films that will show will be arty farty ones and they won’t do Orange 241 Wednesday like Wrexham and Shrews cinemas.
I want another supermarket, a cinema of at least 5 screens,a pizza hut would be nice, a Franky and Benny’s, McDonalds and maybe a Nando’s with a nice little Next and H&M/Topshop.
Bring us into the 21st century please planners.
From,
The real people of Oswestry
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