Last chance saloon for Banbridge

The news last week that Tesco is planning to resubmit their proposals for a store at Bridgewater Park is one that has, I’m sure, provoked a lot of discussion among your readers.

One quote in the local press last week was that most of the local residents were against the Tesco proposal. As a local resident and one of the few who actually work and live in Banbridge, I have to say that the vast majority of people I speak to are in favour of this development and see it as a vital piece in the jigsaw bringing investment and development to our town and district.

It should also be said that a large number of traders are in favour of this project, but do not wish their opinion to be made public for fear of being vilified and marginalised by the vocal minority.

Even a Facebook group site has been set up in support of this project with over 500 members and it is still growing.

It is difficult to see how the creation of jobs at a new Tesco store will result in a net loss of jobs. Will bringing more people to the area not increase the number of people visiting Banbridge town centre? I for one will continue to support the local traders if the service and products offered are of the standard I’ve come to expect from Banbridge shops.

Has Sprucefield damaged Lisburn? On the contrary, Lisburn has benefited from people shopping at Sprucefield and then going into Lisburn city centre to shop.

People from outside the area, who at present bypass Banbridge to shop in Newry, Craigavon and Lisburn will then have a reason to shop both at the Outlet and Banbridge and will see the fantastic services on offer in Banbridge.

Why has Asda been given permission to build at Junction One at Antrim? Is their proposal not a mirror image of Tesco at Bridgewater Park? The Outlet has been good for Banbridge town centre and district, bringing people into the town that otherwise would have bypassed it in favour of Lisburn or Newry.

One local trader commented to me that they have been getting custom from people who would otherwise not have come to Banbridge but for the Outlet.

We are currently playing catch-up to areas such as Craigavon, Newry and Lisburn and with the merging of the councils imminent Banbridge will be pushed down the pecking order in terms of investment. Do Banbridge residents really want to become a feeder town for Craigavon? Surely we deserve better. This is no doubt the “last chance saloon” for Banbridge.

It has been encouraging to hear several councillors such as Jim McElroy and Seamus Doyle firmly support this project. Even councillors who have been opposed to it at least have publicly stated their stance. Too many councillors and the local MP have sat on the fence and thus given the impression that they do not care. It is time for them to nail their colours to the mast and state publicly whether they support the venture or not.

A new Tesco will secure the future of the jobs at the Outlet and will bring considerable revenue in the form of commercial rates. With this investment it will give the traders the opportunity to show what they have to offer that high street stores and supermarkets like Tesco do not.

Now is the time for our councillors to show leadership and the local residents to voice their opinion on this investment. I fear, like many others, that if this project is not successful, Tesco will take their project elsewhere and the message will be that Banbridge is closed for business.

Name and address supplied.