Mayors at loggerheads over store wars

Last week, we reported that ex-councillor Tom Robinson had warned of ruination for the existing town centre if more supermarket chains are granted planning permission.

Mr Robinson urged Planning Service to “consider very carefully if any decisions they make could destroy the town centre and put local traders out of business”.

One of his successors in the mayor’s parlour, Cllr Bobby McKee, said this week he was “amazed” at the comments. “No one can blame the supermarkets for decline in Larne because it is all too obvious from all the empty spaces in the main street that the problem already exists,” the DUP man added.

“As a former mayor myself, I want to see Larne prosper and I get annoyed when obstacles are placed in the way of any kind of change or inward investment. It seems to me that there are always people who will try to block any kind of progress in the town.”

Mr Robinson had said he did not believe Larne could cope with all the supermarket development currently proposed. Cllr McKee argued: “These are major concerns, who have spent fortunes on retail surveys. Does anybody seriously think they would even consider setting up here if they weren’t absolutely positive that there is a demand for it?”

ASDA opened a store at Redlands in June and outline planning permission has been granted for a similar size food store at Millbrook. Planners and Larne Borough council are in talks about the intention to approve a larger store, within the town centre boundary, on the Co-op site at Circular Road; the council is in contract with Tesco regarding a proposed edge-of-town outlet at Inver Park; and developer GML Estates has submitted a proposal for the neighbouring bleach works site at Mill Road.