To save responding to Mr Glyn Davies blog post in detail and filling his comments field too much, I have posted my response in full here.
Mr Davies, I wish for Tesco or any supermarket to arrive in Machynlleth as I believe that the area is in dire need of it.
1) Job's
As an incomer I moved here for family reason's and was fortunate enough to get a job in Newtown before arriving. At the time there were jobs available in Machynlleth, but preferred what was offered. Over time, I don't really think the job situation has improved and can be argued it has got worse. I believe the net effect of Tesco arriving will bring more jobs to the area, even if some are part time. However should the application fail, I have already said to my son that he will be better off moving elsewhere to increase his chances of getting a job. (If truth be told, I told him he will be better of moving to another country as the UK is dying.)
Now he may not want to work in Tesco, but what I am trying to get across is these jobs are very much needed. If the application fails, then the Welsh Assembly, EEC and UK Government need to be pressured to get some sort of major employer into the area. I know it has or was granted EEC funding, but at what cost per head for job created? But that is another debate.
2) Competition
As I have said I travel a lot throughout the UK. Guess what I do on the way back? Visit a town's supermarket to get the groceries and save money in the process. I do compare and the majority of cases do save, and better in my pocket than elsewhere. I have been told that the Machynlleth Co-op is the "most profitable in the area", and "covers losses made elsewhere". Personally I would prefer that money in my pocket than cover for any loses elsewhere. Increasing the competition in the town will drive down prices. To what effect to current shops? Very little, Co-op will suffer and less so the Spar. They are big enough organisations to fight back.
3) People
I don't fully subscribe to the idea that local businesses will suffer. The clock papershop will have a problem and maybe the bakers. The others are good or diverse enough to take stock, adapt and prosper. Tesco will over time increase the volume of people moving in Machynnleth (will deal with traffic issue later) and the challenge is for current shops to attract these people through the doors.
4) Traffic
Turn a negative into a positive. The increase in traffic volume will cause a problem but use this opportunity to get something in place. I don't like the clock junction and I do think traffic lights are the answer. Likewise the Dyfi bridge.
(Here is a question. Is the clock junction, like the Dyfi bridge a Welsh Assembly issue as it is on a major truck road?)
Use lights to control the bridge access. Of course, there is the ongoing problem with flooding, and being honest I cannot answer that at the moment aside from building a brand new route into the town.
Glyn, please use whatever influence you have to spread the message that the majority of those who reside in the area that Machynlleth Town Council administer do want this application approved. The 'no' camp are running a very good campaign and as often happens, the silent 'Yes' are slow to get things going.
I do think think that this application does have a problem of being rejected due to the mix of locals. Not something to be sneered at but rather rejoiced, cause I really have become fond of the area. I have often felt that there is a divide in the town and as an 'incomer' it does feel at times rather strange. It would appear that this divide is largely shown between the 'Yes' and 'No' camps. In the end I hope that it doesn't get any worse, people accept and respect the views of all incomers/hippies/bowlers/locals or whatever tag people are given.
At the end of the day, these same people have the same amount of voting power as their neighbour.
