A SUGGESTED revised redevelopment scheme for Newton Abbot's Wolborough Street should not be thrown out completely, Cllr Reg Wills warned Teignbridge Council's Economy Committee, on Tuesday.
He said if the proposals by supermarket giant ASDA and developer ASM were thrown out 'we will condemn this town to dereliction for many years'.
Cllr Wills told the committee he was very concerned about attitudes that were hardening when the council had not had a chance to talk to ASDA.
'If we go to other developers there is no guarantee that we would get a scheme we wanted. This particular proposal has an advantage of widening Bradley Lane.
'I think we need to have further meetings and not throw it out. Let us have talks with them,' he said.
Recently ASDA pulled out of the long-awaited original scheme and last week forwarded suggestions for the site which has put the superstore to the north of the River Lemon, the store size up from 35,000 sq ft to 40,000 sq ft and gone is the Wolborough Street–Bradley Lane/Halcyon Road junction link road.
ASDA had maintained that it would cost more than £1 million to move services, while it had also wanted affordable housing taken out of the original scheme.
The new proposals – plans have not yet been submitted – would involve the demolition of the Royal Mail sorting office and club, a saddlers shop and Young Leisure.
Cllr Gordon Hook said he could not support the scheme as it stood but would not want to throw the baby out with the bath water.
'I believe we should concentrate on the central issue of bringing economic life back to the centre of Newton Abbot and the domestic issue of providing affordable housing coupled with the road scheme.
'There could be a window of opportunity here,' said Cllr Hook.
Cllr Rhona Parker told the committee it would be criminal if it supported the proposals.
'I do not want to sell Newton Abbot down the river. The road situation just coming in from Ashburton would be a nightmare,' she maintained.
There was a warning from Cllr Hugh Whitley who said a developer was not going to develop what Newton Abbot wanted if his costs were too high.
'No other developer is going to come in. If you mess this one about too long they will be gone. You are completely in their hands. The council cannot afford to develop it.
'You are up a gum tree and it is a gum tree of the council's making,' he said.
Cllr David Howe said people in the town were against the suggested development.
'They feel cheated. It is the corporate wriggling we have had at the eleventh hour,' he stated.
Cllr Vince Fusco pointed out that the original scheme complimented Newton Abbot.
'It was like coffee and cream going together. This scheme is like putting oil with water. I am totally against it,' he said.
Council chairman, Cllr Ken Lewis said the disadvantages far outweighed the advantages.
'As far as I can see apart from the car parking it provides nothing for Newton Abbot. ASDA has got everything it wants.
'It has a store 15 per cent larger and I think it has been playing games with us. It has been death from a thousand cuts.
'I think people would prefer to wait and see a new plan come along,' continued Cllr Lewis.
The committee agreed to recommend to the council's executive that the officers should negotiate for the restoration of the link road with involvement from Devon County Council, and to look at relocation of the store and its wider implications.