SUPPORT FOR OUR SMALL TOWNS

The first step towards fixing a problem is recognising that it exists, one such problem that has been recognised is the impact of out of town and edge of town shopping developments upon the commercial heart of our small towns, this being something that continues to have an impact across the length and breadth of all of Wales.

We need much better thought out and more consistent planning policies for in, out and edge of town retail developments in Wales – and has called for Local Government and the Plaid driven One Wales Government to develop a long term economic view when it comes to planning policies and to be prepared to call in controversial local planning applications for thorough review.

The small towns of Monmouth constituency and elsewhere have suffered in the past from ill-thought out developments and questionable short term economic thinking; local small to medium retailers and businesses and local consumers have suffered accordingly and ultimately we the consumers have paid the price with a loss of local services and choice. The continuing campaign to retain the livestock market in Abergavenny shows that many people do care about the economic future and the character of their communities.

It’s not too late; the decline of our town centres can be reversed and things can improve, so that local businesses and customers can gain economically and have a real choice about how and where they shop and do business? This why I fully support Plaid’s timely campaign to make the “Town Centre heart of our community".

Plaid has outlined a number of proposals to put town centres back at the heart of our communities including:

• the extension of credit union principles to support small and medium sized businesses
• a change in planning regulations to promote sustainable communities
• a mandatory retail impact assessment with each major planning development
• a level playing field for smaller, local businesses

This is a step in the right direction, far too often in the recent past our Local Authorities are often tempted by planning gain as developers offer includes, sweeteners and inducements to ease the passage of proposed developments, which have often brought little benefit to local residents and the local economy over the longer term.

When County Council’s fear the implied costs of supermarket development applications being taken to appeal if an initial request for planning permission is refused, has led to a marked reluctance to turn down ill-thought out developments.

To make matters worse Local Authorities often fail to have properly researched retailing policies within their development plans. If retailing needs have not been assessed then it is very difficult for Local Authority planners to refuse any potentially damaging planning applications from developers, and local small businesses, local suppliers and consumers end up playing the price.

Every Government since the 1980’s has talked the talk about promoting the vitality and viability of our small market towns, when in even the Conservatives under Mrs. Thatcher recognised the problem, but, did next to nothing to prevent the damage being done to our towns.

If one was cynical then one might wonder if the London based parties close financial relationship with some of the developers might have had an impact? Over the last twenty five years retail developments have consistently undermined our small towns economic cohesion and vitality, local authorities have either effectively turned a blind eye to the consequences of out of town or edge of town retail developments on the edge of market towns in England and Wales, or even colluded with the developers.

Despite the mistakes of the recent past, it’s not too late, with the abolition of the business rate for small businesses, better thought out more long term economic redevelopment plans and a change in attitude towards our small businesses, local suppliers it is possible to support our small town centres which should be making a significant contribution to our economy. The first step towards fixing this problem is to stop repeating the ill-thought out mistakes of the past, especially when it comes to planning and economic redevelopment.