NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Use 28 December 2009 SUPERMARKET IMPACT NEEDS TO BE EXAMINED Following the decision by Perth & Kinross Council to give the go ahead to a new supermarket to be built adjacent to Scone's park-and-ride scheme, MSP Murdo Fraser wants the SNP Government to carry out studies to measure the impact of a new supermarket on a town or city. In a parliamentary question to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Stewart Stevenson MSP, Murdo Fraser asked what studies the SNP Government undertaken to measure the impact of a new supermarket on a town or city. In response, Stewart Stevenson stated: "No such studies have been undertaken. In the event of a planning application for a new supermarket being made, the impact on the existing town or city centre would be one of a number of considerations taken into account by the planning authority in reaching a decision." MSP Murdo Fraser wants the SNP Government to review the impact of supermarkets to help inform any decision on future supermarket developments in the Perth area. Commenting, Murdo said: "Perth & Kinross Council has given the go ahead to a new supermarket on the outskirts of Perth, near Scone. A new supermarket in any town or city will have a knock-on effect to the current shops and businesses in the area. That is why I want the SNP Government to carry out studies into the impact of a supermarket as they have admitted that they have no information or studies on the matter. "I believe that any decision on a new supermarket has to have the majority of local residents and businesses backing the plan. That is why I hope that local residents and businesses in Perth and Scone will have a large say on this supermarket's development now that it has been given the go ahead by the Council. "We must have thriving town centres across Perth & Kinross, and Perth must act as the centre of shopping instead of people in the area going off to Dundee or further afield. Any new developments must enhance the area and not cause more competition for our local businesses." ENDS   back to top of page