Tesco is boosting Ellesmere, say town businesses

Ellesmere is a town that wants its Tesco supermarket, it was claimed today.

While many communities across Shropshire and Mid Wales are fighting the retail giant's plans to expand, its arrival in Ellesmere has boosted the town's fortunes, business leaders say.

They rubbished claims that its arrival two years ago has hit the town hard.

The comments come after shopper Roy Pritchard, of Myddle, blamed Tesco and off-street parking charges for a "decline of the town centre".

But Lincoln McMullan, chairman of Ellesmere Chamber of Commerce, said the effect of charges had been minimal and Tesco had helped bring people into the town.

Mr Pritchard said in a letter: "Ellesmere town centre has been in a decline since the Tesco store was built.

"Then along came parking charges. A lovely town being ruined by big business and a council which does not understand the local economy."

But Mr McMullan said: "We are quite lucky where Tesco is located because it means people can do their shop there and then walk into the town centre. If anything it has brought footfall into town."

A spokesman for Tesco said: "The store in Elles-mere is trading very well and we are happy with its progress. It seems locals are happy with it."

The claims came as Tesco today cut its fuel prices following a big fall in the cost of oil. Tesco slashed 3p off a litre of petrol and of diesel after oil prices tumbled following the opening of emergency reserves by the International Energy Agency.

By James Pugh