Tesco denies its own representatives' claims on Shrewsbury expansion plan
Tesco today rejected claims by its own representatives that plans to extend its store in Shrewsbury would result in £2.7 million trade being lost from the town centre each year. Tesco today rejected claims by its own representatives that plans to extend its store in Shrewsbury would result in £2.7 million trade being lost from the town centre each year. The supermarket giant said it did not accept the figure provided by its representatives to town councillors at a public meeting last month. Tesco has been carrying out a public consultation over its plans to extend the store in Harlescott just months after the supermarket won approval to increase its non-grocery space after flouting planning rules for three years. At a meeting on June 7 attended by representatives from Tesco and its consultants Indigo Public Affairs, councillors were told that the extension was expected to result in an extra £5.4 million in sales of non-food goods at the supermarket. However, it was also anticipated there will be a loss of £2.7 million in trade from the town centre. But Tesco today said it "completely rejects" the figure.
By Russell Roberts
TESCO TODAY rejected claims made by its own representatives that plans to extend its Extra store in Shrewsbury by a third would result in £2.7 million trade being lost from the town centre each year.
The supermarket giant said it did not accept the figure provided by its representatives to town councillors at a meeting last month. Tesco has been carrying out a consultation on the controversial plans.
It hopes to extend its store in Harlescott – just months after the firm won approval to increase its non-grocery space after flouting planning rules for three years.
At a meeting on June 7 attended by representatives from Tesco and its consultants Indigo Public Affairs, and DPP Planning, councillors were told the extension was expected to result in an extra £5.4 million in sales of non-food goods at the store.
However, it was also anticipated there will be a loss of £2.7 million in trade from the town centre.
Detailed
But Tesco today said it "completely rejects" the figure and claims its plans will have only a "minimal impact" on the town centre.
According to "detailed" figures that will form part of the company's planning application, only 10 per cent of the £4.8 million worth of non-food sales the company anticipates achieving by 2015, would come from Shrewsbury town centre.
This equates to £480,000 per annum and contradicts the £2.7 million figure.
Sophie Akokhia, Tesco corporate affairs manager, said: "We want to reassure people that the impact of our proposed extension on town centre trading would be minimal.
"We completely reject the figure of £2.7 million of non-food business that has appeared in recent media reports. We know that this is a sensitive subject for local businesses and want to be clear our proposed extension would have very little affect on town centre trade."
Councillor Peter Nutting, leader of the town council, who was present at the meeting in June, today said Tesco's figures could not be relied on. He said: "We must use our own judgements and not any of the figures Tesco provides."
No-one was available for comment from Indigo or DPP today. Tesco's planning application is expected to be submitted to Shropshire Council in the near future.
