Tesco Stymied

As news emerged after just nine weeks of Tesco trading in Rhuthun/Ruthin that shops are suffering up to 20 per cent fewer customers, Denbighshire’s planning committee has today voted decisively against the expansion of the supermarket in the town.

We here felt it would be a foregone conclusion. We expected Tesco to get the nod. We predicted that by this time today, it would have the go ahead to extend and enlarge its Rhuthun/Ruthin store.

In the event, our county councillors thought otherwise. Against officers’ recommendations, swayed by the likely additional effect on the town centre and employment, they voted 18-1 against the proposal, with two abstentions.

Cllr Eryl Williams said, “a florist and card shop were discussing decisions to downgrade trading or even close after Christmas.” Watch this space for concrete news on developments.

Citing a Chester & North Wales Federation of Small Businesses report, Cllr Bob Barton claimed that “all businesses with the exception of two have reported a downturn of 15 to 20 per cent. Two businesses reported a massive drop in footfall of 75 per cent.”

Cllr Morfudd Jones added, “Smaller businesses in Rhuthun are withering. If you go from shop to shop, the story is the same. I think we in Rhuthun can see what a shop like [Tesco’s] can do to small businesses in the town.”

Mike Williams Engineering is the site Tesco earmarked for its expansion. Owner Mike Taylor spoke at the committee. He said, “already there is an impact in the town. Shops are saying they are closing by Christmas.”

Tesco now needs to consider whether it should appeal to a planning inspector. Our guess is that they will do so, given the officers’ original recommendations.

Picture right shows tomorrow’s Denbighshire Free Press shouting the headline “No Go for Tesco” on sale in Rhuthun Tesco Ruthin this evening