New store would rule out improved access to retail park
A bid to build a Sports Direct would block the possibility of creating a new entrance to one of the county's biggest retail parks, according to a councillor.
Shropshire Councillor Jon Tandy, who represents Bayston Hill, Column and Sutton in Shrewsbury, has called for the authority's planning officers to turn down a bid to build a new site for a Sports Direct shop at Meole Brace Retail Park.
The application, which would allow clothes retailer Outfit to take over the current Sports Direct shop, would see the creation of a new unit on land between Argos and TK Maxx.
The proposals could create up to 125 jobs but have already come under fire from the owners of Shrewsbury's town centre shopping precincts, Pride Hill and The Darwin Centre.
Councillor Tandy, who is stepping down from his position at next month's elections, has submitted an objection to the plans to the council's planning department.
He has warned that if they are given the green light then traffic problems on the retail park will only increase.
He said: "I have to object to this application. The proposed extension will worsen current access difficulties at Meole Brace retail park and rule out the one effective solution. At the same time, it risks harm to the town centre.
"We have crowds trying to get out of the retail park at weekends, sometimes taking as long as 30 minutes to get out of the car park. Everyone who uses the park says another access is needed, and the only place for it would be blocked by this new extension. It is hard to see how another feeder road for the current access can help."
Councillor Tandy has also expressed concern over the impact that growth of the retail park would have on Shrewsbury's town centre.
He said: "To an observer, the majority of those leaving the park appear to be heading back towards Shrewsbury, which tells us where Meole Brace is taking its shoppers from.
"We cannot risk further detriment to Shrewsbury town centre. Officers must carry out an up-to-date assessment of impact on the town centre – or insist on one from the applicants.
"Shrewsbury bucks the national trend with the quantity of independent shops it offers throughout the town. We have very few vacant shops. That creates a retail experience that draws people from all over the West Midlands.
"I see too many towns across the UK ruined by out-of-town retail. We cannot afford to let that happen to Shrewsbury."
