St Columb Major Supermarket Plans Could Kill the Town, say Traders

Thursday, 8th July, 2010 08:25:16 AM

Source: http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/news/St-Columb-Major-supermarket-plans-kill-t...

St Columb Major Supermarket Plans Could Kill the Town, say Traders

DEVELOPERS are in talks to build a new supermarket in St Columb Major, with Asda rumoured to be interested.

The Cornish Guardian has seen documents which show a supermarket half the size of the Newquay Morrisons is planned for land off Station Road.

Developers were meeting St Columb Town Council chiefs today to discuss the plans.

But the news has sparked fear among some traders, worried that an out-of-town store would kill off trade in a town already desperate for regeneration.

Richard Ellery, owner of Ellery Butchers, has run the family shop in St Columb since 1958.

Same everywhere

He said: "They are killing everything, these supermarkets.The problem is they are too big to argue with, they get built, and then kill the town they are in.

"It's the same everywhere and I hope the council planners realise this."

Local Nettie Costin said a large supermarket would see St Columb edge closer towards becoming an extension of Newquay.

"I can only see that St Columb and many small towns and villages are being so over-developed that they are gradually losing their individuality and being swallowed up in the boundaries of the larger towns.

Developers Amethyst Property and their agents are understood to be planning a meeting with St Columb Town Council in the coming weeks to gain vital feedback before deciding whether to push ahead with the plans.

Damien Bradley, an agent for the developer, said: "It's early days and just at feasibility stage at the moment – which means we are trying to see if it is wanted or needed.

"Until the town council has said it is needed it won't definitely be happening.

"It's a small town, but it feels, to us that it needs a bit of regeneration. I know Asda is something people would probably want.

"But we want to get public support and don't want an uphill struggle involving the public fighting against the plans.

"We want to build something that people in the town want."

Brian Bazeley, landlord of the Ring O'Bells pub, said he doesn't fear for his establishment's future – should the proposed supermarket bring with it cheap alcohol deals.

"Tesco in Wadebridge is only seven miles away. If people want to drink at home they are already getting their drink from there.

"It will affect the butchers and the Co-op more than here.

"I don't agree with the cheap deals supermarkets provide, but they should have been stopped a long time ago really."

St Columb mayor Billy Calton said he was not able to speak ahead of today's meeting and no one from Asda was available for comment.

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