Tesco to open in Churchdown in the autumn
WORK is due to start soon on building a new Tesco store in Churchdown.
The supermarket giant said up to 100 jobs will be created when its branch in Cheltenham Road East is opened in the autumn.
The news comes more than three years after plans for the store were first revealed.
And it has been welcomed by some councillors, who said they are pleased the "eyesore" site is finally set to be developed.
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Councillor Bill Whelan (LD, Innsworth with Down Hatherley), who is chairman of GL3 Community Hub opposite the Tesco site said: "It's been a long time coming.
"There was a lot of opposition because people think Churchdown is a village and shouldn't have a supermarket, but it has a population of some 11,000 and a bit of competition for the Co-op will be good."
Councillor Kay Berry (LD, Churchdown St John's) expressed "mixed feelings" about the supermarket's arrival.
She said: "I hope they get the traffic sorted so we don't get big tailbacks with people queuing."
The store is due to be built on the former Hurrans Garden Centre site. Tesco bought the land in 2009 and put its proposals on display.
The application was passed by Tewkesbury Borough Council despite more than 250 objection letters.
Tesco's corporate affairs manager Sophie Akokhia said: "I am delighted to confirm the new Churchdown store will open later this year.
"Work will get under way in the coming months so we can start serving customers before the autumn.
"I know this will be a huge benefit for many residents who want to shop closer to home."
Comments
by Alphonso2
Tuesday, February 05 2013, 8:01AM
“Coun. Bill Whelan welcomes Tesco and its predatory pricing. Let's hope Tesco don't cover their frontage with the same plethora of advertising as GL3 opposite which now looks like a tacky used car lot.
Once Tesco have forced the local Co-op to close they will be able to increase their own prices. It should be remembered that the Co-op is owned by its members to whom it pays a dividend, not by City shareholders. The Churchdown Co-ops are convenience stores not supermarkets, so have bigger overheads than supermarkets with their much greater floor area.
The Co-op has highly ethical policies. Do you want to save a few pence by buying lesser quality at Tesco?
Councillors only wanted Tesco because they are paying for improvements to the Hare and Hounds road junction. Planning permission was granted in defiance of residents' wishes.
"Up to" 100 jobs? In 2008, Tesco promised to create 6,000 new jobs in the UK – but managed to add on just 503 FTE (Full Time Equivalent) jobs.
In 2010, Tesco pledged to create 9,000 new jobs in the UK. That equated to (FTE) jobs of 3,592 – less than half of the number of new jobs promised. http://tinyurl.com/6sq92de”