Tesco should be made to pay for a town centre manager to support businesses in Shrewsbury if it gets permission for controversial plans to extend its Extra store, a councillor has said.

Another option suggested by the town council is to get the firm to fund a bid for Business Improvement District status for Shrewsbury town centre.

Representatives from the supermarket giant and councillors have been discussing the proposals to extend floorspace at the Battlefield site by 30 per cent, which the company claims will safeguard 420 jobs and lead to the creation of new part-time positions.

Councillors suggested one of the conditions of the proposal gaining planning permission should be Tesco offering some form of support to town centre traders.

Speaking this afternoon, Peter Nutting, leader of Shrewsbury Town Council, said: “What we were concerned about was Tesco was more interested in Tesco than the town centre. So we have asked ‘if this goes ahead, what would you be prepared to do for the town centre?’”

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