More stores to head for county (From Western Telegraph)

More stores to head for county

THE announcement that the giant food chain Asda is to take over the Co-op supermarket in Pembroke Dock, has fuelled speculation that other retail and business developments are in the pipeline for the town.

The Co-op will close on February 12th and re-open as Asda on April 11th.

Developers are known to be interested in the Kwik Save site and neighbouring land. At one time this site was linked with Asda.

Now it is understood the Danish company Netto, which is planning to move into Pembrokeshire, is interested in opening a store in Pembroke Dock, and Aldi may also have an interest.

Restaurant and accommodation chains, such as Travel Lodge, Harvester and Beefeater, are looking at sites central to the town.

Farm Foods - a frozen food company - has been linked with the Silcox site, but the county council has so far not been approached and this site is more likely to be used for light industrial purposes. But there are still several retail sites available alongside McDonald's and Focus.

With a for sale sign going up on the Dimond Street building occupied by Woolworth, there was concern that the store might be closed.

But the estate agents said that only the freehold is up for sale and it was more of a paper transaction, which should not affect the store.

However, rumours have also been strong that one of the UK's fastest growing high street retailers, Wilkinson, was planning to go into the Woolworth store.

But a Wilkinson spokesperson said: "I have no information at the moment of us opening a store in Pembroke Dock. We cannot comment on any specific site or scheme at this time."

Pembroke Dock county councillor Brian Hall, said: "It is all very good news for the town. We are also looking forward to the development of the technium, which will provide openings for local graduates."

NEGOTIATIONS are still continuing over the development of a five-star hotel at the entrance to the Dockyard. Developer Anthony Baron, of Llanteglos House, Llanteg, is in final negotiations with several companies, including a large hotel chain.

He said he hoped that an agreement could be reached by the end of January. Meanwhile the county council has agreed to buy the former Port Hotel by compulsory purchase and it looks as if there could be interest in the site from a restaurant chain - although this is not Wetherspoon. The Cleddau Bridge Hotel is also planning a major extension.

TWO major supermarket developments in the pipeline for South Pembrokeshire are currently on hold until the findings of a major planning process in the county.

The Joint Unitary Development Plan, featuring proposals for the whole of Pembrokeshire, was the subject of an inquiry which lasted nearly the whole of last year.

During 2004, plans for a £7 million Co-op superstore for Kilgetty were scuppered by Pembrokeshire County Council on the grounds of 'prematurity' ahead of the inquiry inspector's findings.

And a major retail group's planning application for a supermarket and business park at New Hedges looks set to lie dormant until after the inquiry result.

The inspector's report is unlikely to appear for several months. Explained Pembrokeshire County Council spokesman, Len Mullins: "The inspector has 41 days following the conclusion of the inquiry in which to inform bodies when he will announce his findings."

DANISH discount supermarket chain Netto is planning to move into Pembrokeshire as part of a major expansion into Wales.

The company already has over 135 stores in the UK, where it is the leading cut-price retailer.

It has now announced that it intends to open 70 new stores across west and south Wales through a £200 million investment, creating 1,700 jobs.

Netto is planning its expansion through a range of newly-built and existing sites, said a spokesman. "They will be predominantly located between the M4 motorway corridor through to Haverfordwest, and the Heads of the Valleys road."

Netto stocks a range of 1,100 food and non-food items and regularly offers 150 one-off items at major discounts.