Following the story below, Ceredigion Council's Cabinet has now voted to support the re-development plans for lower Great Darkgate Street. Because Compulsory Purchase Orders are involved, legally, the final decision will have to be agreed by the Full Council who are next scheduled to meet on 30th April.
However controversy has now emerged as a wide range of local independent traders are quoted in this week's local paper as opposing the scheme. A recent confidential briefing of all County Councillors in North Ceredigion was told that only one trader opposed the scheme, the implication being that all traders had been consulted. Councillors at the briefing were then asked if they were prepared to support the scheme going forward to the Cabinet. On the information given, councillors (but not this one) overwhelmingly backed the scheme. With opposition now emerging, questions are being raised about the information given to councillors at the briefing and whether they would have been so overwhelmingly in favour had they known the extent of the opposition from traders.
Another bone of contention is the recent six-week public consultation about developing the former Royal Mail sorting office. Although, according to Council Officers, the plans received overwhelming support from the public, the consultation only finished as recently as December 15th and yet made no reference to the greatly expanded scheme now envisaged.