Rally to support Tesco store plan

Tesco says the proposed 24-hour store at Risca would create up to 500 jobs

A rally was held in support of a planning bid by Tesco which is seen as the catalyst for a £60m private sector development in a valleys town.

The supermarket chain's bid for a 24-hour store on the site of an old steel foundry at Risca, Caerphilly county, is opposed by rivals Morrison.

The development would be the first part of a retail, office and housing scheme.

County councillor David Rees said: "This is going to be a life line that will regenerate Risca."

Mr Rees said the march from Tredegar Grounds in Risca to Risca Rugby Club aimed to show Caerphilly planners, who decide on the Tesco bid on 21 October, that the community was behind the application.

Tesco said the store proposed for the 14-acre (5.6 hectare) former foundry site would create around 500 jobs.

Mr Rees, a councillor for Caerphilly's Risca West ward, said the store scheme was the catalyst for the £60m development unveiled last year by developers Birds Group.

The reason for the march is to show that people fully want that store

Councillor David Rees

Birds' proposals, which need planning permission from Caerphilly council, include 200 flats, offices and a 50-bed care home.

Mr Rees said is was "worrying" that Morrison had objected to the Tesco element of the application. The march was to show public support for it, he said.

He said: "In today's economic climate, there is not a great deal of investment out there.

Cinema site

"This is all new money. It is not Welsh assembly money, it's not European money, it's not money that comes from grants. It's all private sector money.

"If Tesco calls in its plan, all the money - the Birds Group, everything - pulls out.

"The reason for the march is to show that people fully want that store."

Tesco's involvement in the wider development includes a commitment to open a smaller Tesco Express store on the Palace cinema site in Tredegar Street once the empty Grade II listed building is renovated.

A Tesco spokesperson welcomed the proposed rally in support of the 24-hour Tesco Extra application.

He said: "We're delighted that people are taking such a keen interest in this exciting local development. We have found great support for the scheme."

'Revised application'

Bird Group director Alicia Bird said the Tesco Extra application was the "trigger" to the overall development project.

She said: "We're in support of the march, although it's nothing to do with us. Good luck to them."

A Morrisons spokesperson said: "We are aware that a revised application by Tesco has been submitted and we are currently considering our options."