Tesco help for Shrewsbury 'not equal to the harm'

Potential investment by Tesco to support town centre traders would 'pale into insignificance' compared to the millions of pounds it will take out of the heart of Shrewsbury if plans to expand its Battlefield store go-ahead, a councillor has claimed.

Councillor Andrew Bannerman said it was time to 'draw the line' on out-of-town developments that were harming trade in the heart of Shrewsbury, by rejecting plans for the supermarket giant to extend the floorspace of its Battlefield store by a third.

He added that proposals floated by town councillors that would involve Tesco paying for a town centre manager or funding a bid for Business Improvement District status would not be sufficient to make up for the damage caused by the expansion.

He added: "The likelihood of getting anything near the sum which Tesco would take from town centre business is remote.

"The few thousand which we might put towards a town centre manager, one of the ideas touted, pale into insignificance beside the millions which Tesco would siphon off town centre businesses."

Councillor Bannerman said he feared for the future of Shrewsbury town centre if Tesco got the go-ahead for the expansion, especially as the Sainsbury's store at the Meole Brace Retail Park was also looking to expand.

"We shall be left with a doughnut town, a tawdry run-down centre and massive developments sprawling around the bypass. We have to draw the line somewhere," he said.

"This is a good place and time to do it - let's just say no to Tesco expansion."

Last month, Peter Nutting, leader of Shrewsbury Town Council, argued that getting Tesco to offer some form of support to town centre traders was preferable to simply arguing for the application to be rejected, as if the supermarket was granted approval after an appeal, they would not have to make any concessions.

Tesco say its expansion plans would safeguard 420 jobs and lead to the creation of part-time positions at the store.

By Chris Burn