FEARS have been voiced for the future of Porthmadog businesses after an £8m out-of-town shopping and hotel development was approved by Gwynedd Council.

Two non-food retail stores, a 60-bedroom hotel with an attached cafe/restaurant and a 174-space car park will be built at Penamser Industrial Estate - creating 100 jobs - after planning permission (with conditions) was granted at a meeting in Dolgellau on Monday.

It is not known yet which national companies, if any, have expressed interest in the development being planned by Morbaine Ltd.

Although the move has been welcomed by many - not least because the complex will create so many jobs - there are some who fear the knock-on effects of an ‘out-of-town’ development.

Llais Gwynedd councillor Alwyn Gruffydd, who represents Porthmadog and Tremadog, is deeply concerned about how local businesses will cope, saying footfall along the high street will likely drop as people are drawn away from the centres of the local towns and villages.

“I’ve fought against developments like these for over 20 years and tried to protect local business as best I can,” Cllr Gruffydd said.

“People seem keen on the proposal and that’s their prerogative, but those same people can’t complain when the High Street suffers in future.

“I don’t know that will happen of course, I just fear it might but hope it doesn’t.

“It doesn’t have to be this way. Bala is the perfect example. Every shop along the High Street is full and there’s no need for big supermarkets on the outskirts of the town.”

Read the full story in today’s Arfon/Dwyfor edition of the Cambrian News