Oswestry supermarket plan appeal turned down by inspector

A Government planning inspector today threw out an appeal from developers hoping to build a multi-million pound supermarket in Oswestry.

Planning inspector Robin Brooks said Shropshire Council was right to refuse planning permission for a food-only store on a site in Victoria Road owned by car firm JT Hughes and guttering firm Guttercrest.

The council threw out the application in 2010, instead giving approval to a rival plan for a store and cinema on the Smithfield livestock site in Shrewsbury Road.

JT Hughes and Guttercrest appealed and a two-day appeal hearing was held in January, the findings of which were revealed today.

Mr Brooks said he had examined data provided by Shropshire Council on how much harm a further supermarket would do to traders.

He said: "The appellants have not produced any evidence to contradict the findings of the council's retail analysis and stated at the hearing that they accept its conclusion, that there is only sufficient expenditure capacity for one new store."

Charles Green, of the Oswestry Coalition campaign group which opposes any new supermarket, said they could only take 'crumbs of comfort' from the decision because the Smithfield project is still to go ahead.

John Hughes from car firm JT Hughes said he could not comment at the moment because he was still digesting the findings. Nobody from Guttercrest was available for comment.