THE leader of Carmarthenshire County Council has said he remains confident Sainsbury’s supermarket will be coming to Cross Hands, despite a marked change in tone in statements issued by the retail giant just weeks apart.

In a recent statement, a spokesperson for the supermarket chain said: “Our plans for Cross Hands remain unchanged, and we look forward to taking possession of the site once the developers have completed their site preparation works.”

However, only yesterday a Sainsburys spokesman said the firm was “reviewing plans across a number of supermarket sites including Cross Hands.”

The store is seen as a key player at the county council’s flagship multi-million-pound Cross Hands West development, which also includes a 250-home residential scheme, a petrol station and a new health centre along with the refurbishment of Cross Hands Workingmen’s Club.

The scheme is a joint venture between the local authority and developers George LB on the brownfield site situated next to the A48, between the former Kwiksave store and Heol-y-Parc Road expected to create up to 350 jobs.

Doubts began circulating over the Cross Hands scheme after the retailer announced its was withdrawing from a similar £50million multi-use site scheme in Cardigan earlier this month.

The decision came after Sainsbury’s announced it was cutting costs and spending to shore up its balance sheet and was looking to pull the plug on the majority of new store developments following a disappointing year.

Councillor Kevin Madge said, “As far as I am concerned it is a done deal, the supermarket is still committed to going to Cross Hands.”