New supermarket may cause job losses, says traders survey
THE majority of shopkeepers in Mexborough are against plans for a new megastore in the town and fear it will cause job losses, new figures reveal.
Small business owners have launched a campaign to fight plans for a multi-million pound supermarket, which they claim will drain trade away from the market hall and High Street.
Members of the ‘Save the High Street’ campaign group have now completed a survey of businesses in the town centre, which indicates many are against the proposals.
Of 92 business owners who responded, 69 said they felt the new store would have a negative effect on the town.
A total of 53 respondents believed the development would resultin job losses in their businesses, and none said they felt it would create jobs for them.
Business owners estimated the supermarket scheme would result in 114 people losing their jobs in town centre shops.
Campaign chair Bill Lawrence, said: “This is real evidence which shows the majority of business owners in the town don’t want to see the supermarket built.
“We couldn’t afford to have the survey done independently, but it is a completely fair survey.
“We simply asked people what they thought and this proves that they do have real concerns about these supermarket plans.”
Kier Property has submitted a planning application for the £10 million pound store, set to be built on the site of the former United Carpets building, previously the South Yorkshire Times office.
The company states the development will create as many as 250 jobs, and will help to keep people in the town to do their main food shopping who currently go elsewhere.
Director Tom Gilman has previously told the times: “If we can deliver a new store here, then it will encourage some of these people to use other local businesses in the same trip, which could be a real boost to the town centre and market.”
The company has been in negotiations with the country’s major supermarket chains about running the store.
No date has yet been set for the proposal to be heard at Doncaster Council’s planning board.
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