Welsh Liberal Democrats will act to stop "Ghost Town Wales"

5.35.19pm GMT Tue 9th Jan 2007

Fear that the supermarket domination of High Streets could lead to town centres becoming 'ghost towns' has led to calls from local Liberal Democrats for the rules governing supermarkets to be tightened.

Veronica Watkins, leading Liberal Democrat candidate for South Wales East in the Assembly Election in May wants to revise current planning guidance issued by the Welsh Assembly Government to local councils when making a decision on new supermarkets.

Welsh Liberal Democrats would change the guidance so that the full retail impact on towns is fully considered, and that environmental assessments are taken as a matter of course.

Ms. Watkins said, "I want to promote and develop vibrant and thriving town centres. Many people fear that the big supermarket chains have a stranglehold over local High Streets. We will act to avoid our town centres turning into ghost towns."

Commenting on the Lib Dems plans to review planning guidance to local councils, she said: "Research shows that when a new supermarket opens in a market town this can cause local speciality and corner shops to lose as much as three quarters of their business[1]. We are all feeling the impact of big businesses in our local high-street. The unchecked expansion of supermarket domination threatens to strangle the life out of our towns, villages and cities.

"We want a fair system of retailing that has a place for the major chain supermarkets, as well as ensuring that the high street retailer can survive. We must avoid a ghost town Wales."

Ms. Watkins added, "In the Welsh government after the election we will insist on revising planning guidelines on supermarkets. We will make it a requirement that the impact on other local retailers and the local environment is taken into consideration when considering any new superstores.

"At the moment assessments only take into account the impact of general food retailing. I want to make sure that the impact on all retailers in the area is considered - along with the impact on congestion and pollution. The new breed of supermarkets sell a lot more than food. Communities should be given the power to protect their high streets and restrict supermarkets where they want it. "

Supporting Ms. Watkins, local Assembly Member Michael German, and leader of the Liberal Democrats in the National Assembly for Wales said: "The current issue of ASDA at a town centre site in Abergavenny is a prime example of why we need to rewrite the rules to ensure a level playing field and ensure we have vibrant town centres in the future. We will also need to look at the amount of non-food retailing space a new store wants.

"Granting planning permission for new superstores must not lead to the death warrant for our local traders. The existing local provision of newsagents, pharmacies, food stores and clothes shops must be a bigger factor when approving new developments.

"Successful applicants for new stores should also give something back to the local communities. They should be required to invest in local community projects and environmental schemes."