‘Short-sighted in the extreme’
That’s how councillor described change of use into nursery
ADECISION to allow a former town centre supermarket to be turned into a children’s nursery has been slammed by a town councillor.
Earlier this year, Anglesey Council granted planning consent to turn the former Kwik Save store on Holyhead’s Market Street into a children’s nursery, which is set to open within the coming months.
This follows an announcement by North Wales Housing in 2013, part of the Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI), to create a modernised shop unit at the vacant site following the closure of the former Kwik Save in 2007.
Also announced were proposals to create six, one bedroom flats above the store, which were realised.
North Wales Housing had expressed hopes that the remaining ground floor unit could be retained for retail use, breathing new life into the high street.
But a town councillor has slammed a decision by Anglesey Council planning officers to allow the change of use, which will now house a children’s nursery rather than a retail unit as had been originally envisaged.
Cllr Shaun Redmond said: “The former Kwik Save is a prime retail unit in the middle of Market Street, a great location for any retailer planning to open up in Holyhead.
“But I find it short-sighted in the extreme that the council has allowed this change of use to go ahead.
“I’ve been speaking to the owners of existing children’s nurseries in Holyhead, and it doesn’t sound to me that any of them are full to the brim or there’s an insatiable need for more of them in the area.
“The planners should have the foresight to recognise that there are other, more suitable locations dotted around Holyhead rather than lose a prime retail spot such as this.”
But Phil Danson, Places Director at North Wales Housing, said that “extensive efforts” were made to find a suitable tenant but despite following a number of leads, a deal could not be secured.
He added: “The unit has been empty since 2007 and our view was that a commercial development such as this one, is a much better option than leaving the unit empty as it has been for a number of years.”
An Anglesey Council spokesman added: “Holyhead Town Council was asked for its views as part of the application consultation process earlier this year and raised no objections to the change of use. The building in question is significant in size and has been empty for a considerable amount of time.
“Bringing it back into use will increase footfall in the town centre and create local employment. Its use as a children’s nursery also retains a commercial use.”