Shrewsbury Tesco decision 'shambolic'

A decision to allow supermarket giant Tesco to increase the amount of space it uses for non-grocery goods at one of its Shropshire stores was today labelled as "shambolic".

Campaigners spoke of their "bitter disappointment" that plans by Tesco to increase the amount of space it uses for non-food items at its Shrewsbury Extra store were approved by a Shropshire Council committee yesterday.

But today the unitary council defended the decision.

Tesco had been in breach of planning regulations imposed by the Secretary of State on how many non-grocery items it could sell at the store in Battlefield.

But its retrospective plans were approved at a Strategic Planning Committee meeting at Shirehall following recommendations by officers, despite claims from traders and other campaigners about the effects the breach had caused for businesses in the town.

Andy Boddington, chairman of the Campaign to Protect Rural England in Shropshire, said: "This is bitterly disappointing.

"When the Secretary of State originally gave Tesco permission for this giant store in 2004, he restricted the area of the store that could be used to sell comparison goods to 32 per cent of the store.

"Yet from the first day of trading, Tesco used much more space than allowed. There is no doubt this has contributed to Shrewsbury having more empty town centre shops than others of its size."

John Hall, chairman of Shop in the Loop which represents about 700 town centre traders, labelled the move "shambolic".

But Stuart Thomas, central area manager for development management with Shropshire Council, said: "The decision was taken on the planning merits of the case and the available evidence which considered that the additional sale of comparison goods would not have a significant adverse impact upon the town centre."

By Emma Kasprzak