TRADERS in Llangollen have voted to fight plans for a new supermarket in the town that could create 85 jobs.

Members of Llangollen chamber of trade and tourism met on Monday night to discuss a planning application submitted to Denbighshire Council by Vivod Holdings.

The development is for 1.68 hectares of land for a Class A1 retail foodstore and car park with 111 spaces and a new traffic signal controlled junction.

The supermarket would be located on the land to the west of the A5 at Cilmedw Farm and will create 85 new jobs and planners say the majority are likely to be filled by local residents.

Vivod is a Llangollen estate occupied by Juliet and Robert John Best who are directors of Vivod Holdings Ltd which is now run by their son William Best who has put forward the application.

Following a lively debate, members voted to oppose any development as per the local development plan.

The chamber also voted to ask for an extension to the standard consultation period.

A number of issues were raised during the debate including increased traffic and environmental concerns.

Traders said a supermarket would take trade away from existing shops and would have a detrimental affect on the town centre and tourism in the area.

It was also highlighted a new supermarket could lead to the closure of existing shops and residents of the most populated areas of the town, in particular the Pengwern estate, would have to travel much further for groceries.

Hotelier Stephanie Booth, chairwoman of the chamber, said: “Everyone can say to us ‘you are biased because you are business people’, and if it is just us then that’s fair comment.

“But, if you go round the residents of the town, which we have, though it’s not a huge sample, 9 out of 10 of those opposed the idea of a supermarket.

“If you don’t want this supermarket then we have to campaign and we have to get popular and public opinion to block it,” she added.