The leaked original report described a new supermarket as essential and said that a ‘semi-rural’ setting was necessary and justified – but the official version a week later reversed its position, saying just that a new operator should not be stopped and that a town site would be sought first.
Economic Development Minister Alan Maclean said on Friday that the changes were prompted by consultation with the Chamber of Commerce and others, but they say that when they met to discuss the report last Monday there was already a new version on the table.
Chamber of Commerce president Ray Shead has called for the report to be withdrawn and has accused the minister of ‘backtracking’ after the leaked draft received a hostile reception.
