AMBITIOUS plans for a £100m retail park and housing complex in Buckley have been given the thumbs down by local councillors. Connah's Quay-based Jimsul Construction is behind the massive scheme, which would also include Flintshire's first multiplex cinema and 143 affordable homes. The firm's planning consultant, Gareth White, says the development at Spon Green - between Buckley and Padeswood - would create thousands of jobs. But local councillors are vehemently opposed to the proposal. Cllr Gareth Williams said the project was first floated four years ago, but had not been included in the new Unitary Development Plan (UDP). 'The scheme would destroy the green barrier between Buckley and Padeswood, which is a non-starter,' he said. 'The retail aspect of the scheme would also have a devastating impact on existing local shops.' Cllr Ron Hampson is also opposed to the scheme. He said: 'Existing services in Buckley are already stretched to the limit. 'There are already plans in the UDP for hundreds of new homes. The town just couldn't cope with any more. 'We must also protect our shopping centre, and not go building retail units on the edge of town which would create competition and put existing shops out of business.' But Mr White believes the plan is a winner. 'By publicising the scheme we hope to create a groundswell of public opinion for the project. This will hopefully persuade the Welsh Assembly to deal with the plan directly. 'We are offering the county council land worth £10m for 143 much-needed affordable homes. The UDP should be ripped up as it vastly underestimates the demand for new homes in the county. 'It says 7,000 will be sufficient over the next 15 years, but we say the figure is more likely to be 20,000. This scheme would create 333 new homes, which would help considerably. 'There would also be a 100,000 sq ft superstore, multiplex, business park, IT centre linked to Deeside College and a large open space for the community.' Mr White said the scheme could be off the drawing board and translated into bricks and mortar almost immediately if it was given the go-ahead. | 
