September 23, 2008

ROSS SUPPORTS PROPOSED ASDA DEVELOPMENT IN PPS5 DEBATE 

East Antrim Assembly Member Alastair Ross MLA said that the proposed development at the harbour which will see a new Asda supermarket, a bowling alley and a cinema is positive for Larne and is supported by local people.  

He made his comments during a debate on out of town shopping facilities which was proposed by UUP MLA Roy Beggs Jnr. The DUP amended the motion reflecting the importance of some regional and locally significant developments and gained all party support for the amendment.  

Commenting Mr Ross said,  

“The motion proposed by Mr Beggs gives the impression that all out of town centre shopping facilities are bad, and this is not the case.  

The vast majority of businesses in the Province are small in size, and thousands of people are employed by medium and small businesses. These small, often family run businesses can be the heart and sole of many local communities.  

I therefore have no desire to see our town centres deserted and the closure of small traditional shops, but at the same time I would not support a blanket ban on any out of town developments.  

Most people want access to a range of products at competitive prices in a location where they can park easily. This is particularly important now as families face tighter economic pressure than they have in recent times and economic considerations are at the top of their priority list.  

If done correctly, new facilities can also often provide jobs for local people and can generate economic prosperity for a region. I know that many towns have been mentioned that could be under threat from out of town developments – including Larne. At the site in the harbour area there is a large supermarket planned and as part of the overall development there will be a bowling alley and cinema.  

Far from being bad for the town this will provide many facilities that the town desperately needs, because at present the majority of people in the town travel to Carrick or Ballymena for their weekly shop and go to other neighbouring towns for entertainment.  

It is much better if local people can stay in the town to get their weekly shop, as at the moment many families don’t shop in Larne at all as they do all their shopping in other areas.  

A sensible planning policy should be balanced and allow development where it will be advantageous to the local community and the town.”