Madam,

Further to Ray Blackurne’s letter (‘150 jobs is good news for Aber - so why the doom and gloom?‘, last week’s Cambrian News), I feel compelled to address the matters he raises, as an elected ward councillor for Aberystwyth’s Rheidol Ward in which the new supermarkets are located and where the Aberystwyth Day Centre used to be.

I am not living in the past. One hundred and fifty new jobs at M & S for Aberystwyth are of course welcome, and I welcome them and the increasing trade they will bring for our town. Though, perhaps Mr Blackburne might acknowledge the fluidity of jobs created in the retail section. Only last week Budgens shut its doors with 22 job losses. Also, there was the announcement that there are over one million zero hours contracts in the United Kingdom at the moment! Also, does Mr Blackburne realise that, every time a large supermarket opens, jobs are lost in the local community. This is the imposition of a large development on a residential area (when it could have been built at the other end of Park Avenue) and the traffic congestion has been exacer-bated by the strange bottleneck at Mill Street roundabout. This will be made worse by the planned Aldi development, which includes a new hotel. Yes we need Aldi and I am looking forward to its arrival. The Arriva bus depot site development is set to lead to the loss of 106 car parking spaces from the adjacent car park.

As a ward councillor I will continue to monitor the traffic situation and problems bought to my attention and will cam-paign to address them.As to the day centre, I do not believe it is “ living in the past” to campaign for proper and sustainable facilities for the growing elderly population of the county. Rather it is critical that we address these issues for the future.

The closure of the day centre, the reduction in places and referrals to the new day centre in the basement of the Town Hall, and issues over residential care homes, show a defection in council policy, which I do not believe will serve the best interest of this county.

Perhaps Mr Blackburn would like to come and live in the Rheidol Ward and experience things for himself?

Yours etc

Cllr Mair Benjamin

Rheidol Ward

Aberystwyth.