Plans for large new Co-op store in Penyffordd approved despite road safety worries

Plans for a large new Co-op store in Penyffordd have been given the green light despite reservations about the impact on road safety. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Community leaders said most residents in the village were supportive of having the new 4,000 square foot convenience store, which will be built next to the Millstone Inn. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

However, speaking at a planning committee meeting today, they added that many also held worries about how it would affect traffic on Hawarden Road. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

In response, council officers made a commitment to meet with the community to address their concerns. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

After being provided with reassurances, councillors at County Hall in Mold unanimously decided to approve the proposals. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

At the start of the meeting, Penyffordd community councillor Alan Wight highlighted the conflicting views shared by villagers. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

He said: “On the whole the community want the Co-op, just not in this location, but we don’t get to choose ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The heart of the concern here is road safety. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

We are concentrating a large playgroud, school bus stop, houses, community centre, scout hut, community garden, two football pitches, a pub, two road junctions and now a shop on a very short stretch of road. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

At peak times it gets very busy with fast moving traffic, HGVs and dozens of children waiting for school buses crossing the road. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

We are requesting approval of this proposal, but we’re also asking the council on record for a commitment beyond planning conditions to work with us to make this stretch of road safe before the shop opens and before an accident proves the need.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

In response to the concerns raised, highways managers said they would meet with local councillors to discuss the issues raised. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

They added that measures would be taken to ensure the safety of children and parents travelling to the newly built Ysgol Penyffordd. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Cllr Chris Bithell, cabinet member for planning and public protection, said it would help to cater for the influx of residents in the village caused by recent housing developments. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The Labour politician said: “One of the principle reasons that local objectors have made to developments is because of the lack of facilities and services within the villages. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

This will address one of those in as much as there’s only one particular shop in the village at the moment and this will add to that. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

There will be a greater choice and competition as a consequence. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

I hear what the local member says about improvements being needed, but that will have to feature as part of the highways programme.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

By Liam Randall – Local Democracy Reporter (more here). ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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