QUESTIONS about access and what impact two new retail stores will have on a residential community were put to planning officers during a meeting.

Denbighshire County Council’s planning committee met to consider details of access, appearance, landscaping and layout in connection with an application that will see two retail units - one said to be a Co-op - built on land next to the Magistrates Court on Victoria Road, Prestatyn.

Outline planning permission for the development of two retail units and 20 residential units was granted in 2017.

Traders based in the area - including Mike Pimm and David Hastie, owners of Go Local Extra on Victoria Road - fear the arrival of two potential ‘big name stores’ will put them out of business.

Concerns have also been raised about too much ‘congestion’ on the roads and how the developments will “turn a residential area into a retail area.”

Cllr Tony Flynn, Prestatyn North ward, said: “We had a site meeting and one of the members said it is healthy to have competition. I pointed out the convenience store across the road which is in its very young stages with two men running it and four part time staff.

“I don’t know if it is considered fair and healthy that a national retailer could potentially build across the road and go head-to-head with them in business.

“What we know at this stage is a national retailer wants to take one of these two units and operate from there. We look at the size of the car park that has 22 parking bays.

“You don’t know is what the second retailer is going to be,” he added.

“I know that Iceland would snap your hand off to move off the high street.

“If both stores had seven staff each, they just can’t go and park on the roads because the roads are congested anyway. The only option is that car park."

“Would you maybe want to see this delayed until you had the full knowledge of this proposal, what is the other shop going to be?”

Cllr Huw Jones said he supported the scheme, but aired concerns about making sure parking was sufficient so shoppers don’t park on residential roads.

Cllr Bob Murray read aloud an email from cllr Paul Penlington, also Prestatyn North, who was unable to attend.

He said: "They will turn a residential area into a retail area. Increased traffic will make it extremely difficult to access residential streets in the area."

Paul Mead, development manager at Denbighshire County Council, suggested two additional conditions were imposed in relation to car park management and yellow lines.

The application was voted through.