A double-edged sword for Ulster's economy

ONCE again planning permission has been granted to Tesco,enabling the multi-national food giant to continue expansion acrossNorthern Ireland.

However, Tesco is by no means a new phenomenon in the localcommunity of Banbridge.

While a few years ago Tesco established a presence in the towncentre, the approval for Tesco's development at Bridgewater reflectsa much longer and contentious battle.

Despite a three-year defence upheld by local independent tradersand the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Association (NIIRTA),Tesco's planning application has been approved, albeit a scaled-down version in comparison to the proposed store.

The decision has been made, but the debate still persists.

The arguments for and against are well made, yet it is unknown towhat extent this is a double-edged sword for the Northern Irelandeconomy.

On one hand, it may threaten the survival and growth of retailersin Banbridge town centre. For independent retail stores, thecurrent economic climate and growth of internet shopping has alreadycreated challenging times.

So, retail business owners may wonder where their support is in ahighly competitive and unlevel playing field.

The importance of this sector extends beyond the significantcontribution to the local economy to include a strong cultural andsocial presence in the high street. On the other, the promise of400 new jobs creates some hope for the large percentage ofunemployed people in the area.

For consumers the attraction of convenient and free parking atBridgewater is important to older shoppers and consumers with youngfamilies.

There is no crystal ball to aid predictions of the consequencesof yesterday's news.

In reality the debate is less centred on Tesco and more focusedon the development of out-of-town retail parks.

While it is important that the business owners of retail storesin Banbridge maintain a positive and proactive stance, the power tosupport local traders in the town centre lies in the hands of localgovernment.

Therefore, the promise of a new bus station and car parkingfacilities for the town centre is not a future option, but anecessity to ensure survival.

Tesco's pledge of employment may bring some advantage, but it iscritical to remember that when independent retailers thrive, thecountry thrives.