NAILSWORTH Town Councillors were wary of the grave threat a potential new out of town supermarket could have for the local community.
Three new supermarkets are being proposed for the Stroud area, but councillors were most nervous about plans for a medium-sized ASDA store in Daniels Industrial Estate, Bath Road, Lightpill.
At a town council meeting on Tuesday, July 15, Deputy Mayor Jonathan Duckworth said: “The supermarket may take trade from the surrounding areas and Nailsworth may well be affected.”
Cllr Duckworth then revealed some shocking predictions as to the damage the supermarket may cause to the local economy.
His estimations calculated that:
• If Nailsworth suffered a 5 per cent loss of trade 42 jobs would be lost in the town.
• Should the town suffer a 10 per cent trade decrease 125 jobs would be lost.
• If a 15 per cent loss was to be incurred than the loss to the local economy could have devastating consequences.
Town Mayor Myles Robinson said he was “dead against” an out of town supermarket as employment and businesses could well be affected.
However ASDA’s head of UK property communications Doug Wilson, said the new store: “Would mean up to 250 jobs for local people and a £30 million investment into the local economy.”
All three sites will have their fates decided on Thursday, July 24 at a Stroud District Council meeting.
The SNJ reported two weeks ago that a fourth proposed supermarket was on the cards with a developer looking to convert The Market Tavern pub on Union Street.