Road access may scupper Ty Mawr development

Aug 13 2008 by Elgan Hearn, Holyhead and Anglesey Mail

A MAJOR development, which could create 1,300 jobs, could be in doubt after the Welsh Assembly revealed it has concerns about the proposal.

Ynys Môn Estates has submitted a planning application to Anglesey County Council to develop the 57-acre Ty Mawr site, in Llanfairpwll, just off the A55 near Britannia Bridge – land which is owned by the Assembly – to create a mixed-use £100m business, retail and leisure park.

They claim that 1,300 jobs could be created and in recent weeks has revealed that cinema chain Cineworld has signed a deal to anchor the project.

However, the Assembly’s transport department has revealed it has major concerns about road access.

The company said the news had come “totally out of the blue”.

Ben Beachell, from the Assembly’s Transport Wales department, said: “As the application currently stands, the Assembly would have no option but to direct refusal on the basis that increased traffic generated by the proposal, would adversely affect the operation of the A55/A5025 junction.”

He said the effect would be harmful to the safety and free flow of trunk road traffic.

“Given the critical nature of this junction in the overall access to the site, the Assembly is of the view that it is not appropriate to condition the application as any condition could be found to be unreasonable.

“It is doubtful whether this junction can be modified sufficiently given the limited room available and existing constraints.”

Anglesey County Council’s planning control manager Dewi Ffransis Jones said the application will not be going before the full council committee next month, and they will be passing on Transport Wales’ comments to the applicant.

He said it was up to the company to decide how they are going to handle the matter.

When asked if the application would be discussed at the following full council’s quarterly meeting in December, Mr Jones said: “Not necessarily. The councillors could call a special meeting before then to discuss it if they so wish, but we will have to take these plans out to the public for further discussion as new information has come to light.”

This week, Ynys Môn Estates confirmed to the Mail that they have not withdrawn the application.

Chief executive of the company Carl Lewis said: “Ongoing negotiation with the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG), highways and consultees is standard practice in any development to conclude outstanding issues and this recommendation for refusal has come totally out of the blue.

“We will continue to communicate with WAG Highways and are confident that we can resolve any issues in due course.”

elgan.hearn