Minister to decide Aberystwyth home demolition plan

Enid Jones does not believe her home needs to be demolished

A grandmother's fight to save her home from demolition to make way for two superstores in Aberystwyth will be decided by a Welsh government minister.

A planning inspector has decided to hand over the final decision to Minister for Housing and Regeneration, Carl Sargeant.

Twelve homes in Glyndwr Road face demolition, with Enid Jones, 58, the only resident refusing to sell.

The minister will make his decision by 30 July.

Tesco and Marks and Spencer stores are planned for the Ceredigion council-owned Mill Street car park near to Mrs Jones' home.

The authority issued a compulsory purchase order (CPO) for her home in May last year.

In March, a planning inspector oversaw a two-day hearing in Aberystwyth and considered evidence from the council and objectors to the order.

As part of the plans a number of other buildings would have to be knocked down, including a day centre, a drill hall and a disused garage.

The council has said the two stores, which could open by December 2016, would boost town centre trade by between £1.6m and £3.5m a year and create 295 jobs.

A Welsh government spokesman said: "The intention is to get the decision on the CPO issued within 12 weeks."