Traders vow to keep up the fight

FOLLOWING the news that developers at Bridgewater Park have submitted new plans for a Tesco Extra store 20 per cent smaller than the original refused application, town traders have vowed to continue their fight against the proposed superstore.

Land Securities and Stoney Properties submitted the new planning application two weeks ago but members of the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association (NIIRTA) and Banbridge Chamber of Commerce said they will continue to oppose the plans.

NIIRTA Chief Executive Glyn Roberts and President of Banbridge Chamber of Commerce Rosin McAleenan said in a joint statement.

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“This so-called ‘new’ application is neither a surprise nor any sort of compromise in any way.

“The developers are simply not listening to the concerns of local traders or the community as a whole who are opposed to such a hypermarket being built in an out of town location which, based on all of the independent research, will result in the retail devastation of Banbridge Town Centre and the net loss of hundreds of jobs.”

location

The statement went on to say that the out-of-town location of the shop is the key issue, rather than the size of the Tesco Extra store.

“A reduced hypermarket of 20 per cent is no compromise as its impact on the Town Centre will remain the same

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“It is incredibly arrogant of the Developers to ignore the view of thousands of local Banbridge residents who signed a petition opposing the store and the view of nearly every local trader in Banbridge Town Centre.

“In addition if the Developers are really claiming this as a new ‘compromise’ application why then are they continuing with the Judicial Review with their original application? Will they now withdraw that Judicial Review?”

“Why does Tesco not develop their existing edge of centre store instead as a really fair compromise?

“Both our organisations will fight on and we will stop at nothing to protect Banbridge Town Centre, local jobs and local businesses”

“We are confident that this application, like its predecessor will be rejected.”

Thousands of local people also signed a petition in support of the Bridgewater Park Tesco development

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