BUSINESS leaders in Williton claim their warnings of "a meltdown" for traders in Fore Street if a proposed new supermarket is built have been vindicated in research just published.

A new report predicts that shop closures are likely and the village's existing convenience stores could lose more than 50 per cent of their business if the controversial retail development on the edge of the village gets the go-ahead.

The assessment of retail planning policy by Bristol-based consultants GVA was commissioned by West Somerset Council to provide an independent review of local businessman David Gliddon's scheme for a store just under half the size of Minehead's Morrisons.

The plans, on agricultural machinery specialists J Gliddon's current site in Bank Street, also include a 175-space car park, a further 1,300 square metres of retail units and up to three homes, along with a pedestrian link to Fore Street.

But the report concludes that a planning and retail statement submitted by Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners in January this year to support Mr Gliddon's application under-estimated the amount of financial impact the existing stores would experience.

The NLP impact assessment had already accepted that the Spar outlet would suffer a 47 per cent loss of business, the Co-Op 35 per cent and other shops 14 per cent.

Williton Chamber of Commerce Ken Westall told the Free Press: "The GVA report more than vindicates our warnings of a meltdown for traders in Fore Street if the supermarket plan was to go ahead.

"The report recommends that the proposal should be considered for refusal under planning policy and concludes that the health of Williton centre will be affected by this proposal, with the negative characteristics likely to outweigh the positive aspects."

Mr Westall said that, like the chamber, the GVA report warned there would be an adverse impact on the vitality and viability of the centre.

In addition to the concerns over the financial impact, the report highlights the lack of need for the additional retail floorspace, the inappropriate scale of the development and the effect on local consumer choice and competition.

The proposal is also found not to have met the 'sequential' test, with a failure to carry out a proper assessment of alternative sites - particularly in neighbouring Watchet.

Consultants also question whether the new supermarket could win the market share of trade predicted by the applicants, describing the predictions as "too optimistic".

A claimed 12,200 new visitors to Williton per week was also "likely to be an over-estimate".

A household survey carried out by the applicants has shown the local community split over support for the new development.

Although 30 per cent of people questioned said they would visit Williton more often if it was built, the latest report has concluded that although a positive factor on its own, that may not be enough to mitigate against the significant financial impact of the proposal.

And if store closures do happen, consultants question whether the vacant premises would be re-occupied.

The applicants claim up to 150 jobs could be created as a result of the development but consultants say the potential for job losses due to the possible closure of competing outlets must be taken into account.

The new report, however, make it clear that the consideration of retail planning policies is just one of a number of elements critical to the district council's overall determination of the application.

And it also acknowledges that the proposed development would have the potential to reduce the number of shopping trips outside the area.

Mr Westall said the chamber had been advised that the supermarket plans would not go before the district council's planning committee until September.