Civic society clashes with club

Newtown Civic Society's vow to "oppose at every stage" plans for a new bowling club in the town's park has been greeted with disappointment by the bowling club officials.

Members of Newtown Bowling Club are urging the civic society to look at the bigger picture which they claim would be far more beneficial for Newtown than the alternative.

Trouble brewed when Oswestry-based developer J Ross Developments put forward a scheme to build a medium-sized supermarket on the current bowling club site off Back Lane in Newtown and relocate the bowling club facilities to "white" land nearby.

The civic society has said it was unacceptable to use public open space for a new club.

David Pugh, society president, said: "The existing character of the park will be totally destroyed by the placing of a private club across its centre."

However, Gerald Jones, bowling club secretary, said: "This is an exciting time for the club, its many members and the people of Newtown. We're disappointed the civic society hasn't talked to us before going to the press.

"The developer wants to put a medium-sized store in the centre of Newtown rather than a large supermarket out of town. Our site has been earmarked by the council for 'food retail'. The alternative scheme is a large out-of-town Tesco which will suck the life out of Newtown and force people into their cars."

l A planning application by Tesco for the former Smithfield site in Pool Road has been "called in" by the Welsh Assembly Government for consideration.