Tesco expansion 'could hit Shrewsbury town centre'

Plans to expand a Tesco store in Shrewsbury could put the town centre's economic future at risk if the proposals allow the supermarket giant to sell more non-food items, it was warned today.

Shrewsbury Town Council has raised the concerns over Tesco's plans to extend the size of its store in Battlefield Road by a third and said the supermarket firm should put measures in place to compensate traders.

Shropshire Council has put its decision over the bid on hold after asking the supermarket to clarify how much of the expanded store would be dedicated to selling comparison – non-food – goods and how much would be set aside for food items.

At a planning meeting on Tuesday, Shrewsbury Town councillors said the authority had no objection to the overall application to extend the store, but wanted to see a number of conditions put on the proposals.

It was resolved that their concerns will be passed on to Shropshire Council ahead of a decision being made.

In the minutes from the meeting, the council said: "The town council remains of the view that any increase in the trading floor space should be restricted to convenience goods.

"Any increase in comparison goods trading will have a detrimental impact on the viability of the town centre.

"The town council is of the view that Tesco should contribute towards mitigating measures to compensate the town centre from any loss of trade."