South Antrim DUP Assembly Member Trevor Clarke has welcomed the announcement by NI Environment Minister Edwin Poots that he intends to refuse the application for an out-of-town Tesco super-store on the outskirts of Ballyclare.

Mr Clarke said: "I welcome the announcement by the Environment Minister concerning this important issue. Many local traders had feared that a large-scale development of this type would have caused serious damage to the existing businesses in Ballyclare. Tesco is the largest supermarket chain in the United Kingdom and unfortunately history has shown us that the bigger the store they open on the outskirts of a town, the bigger the damage to existing retail concerns."

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He continued: "I am pleased that the Environment Minister has taken this decision and has helped to secure the long-term viability of Ballyclare town centre."

NS