Letter: Tesco wants others to succeed

Letter: A number of questions have been raised regarding the impact of a new supermarket on Oswestry town centre. The lifeblood for retailers is the footfall of the customer. Without customers shops clearly cannot succeed.

Experience shows that the customers attracted by a medium-to-large sized supermarket have a positive impact on town centre shops, provided that both supermarket and retailers work together to encourage what is referred to in the industry as "linked trips".

At Tesco we look to work with chambers of commerce and retail groups to publicise local shops and services within our store localities.

Should planning permission be granted for a new Tesco store, we would be keen from day one to ensure that linked trips with the town centre are encouraged in Oswestry.

Tesco has identified the most deliverable site, close to the town centre, is the Richard Burbidge Ltd Unicorn Road option. Our proposals will secure that com- pany's future in the town.

This scheme is on the edge of Oswestry town centre and includes investing in the creation of an off-road footpath connecting the site to the town centre within five minutes. This will be linked by the proposed medical centre and regenerated Cambrian Works. The proposals also include a £150,000 investment into the inter-town circular bus.

Tony Fletcher

Corporate Affairs Manager

Tesco