Member Article

Harrogate Chambers in full frontal attack on new Tesco superstore

Harrogate Chamber of Trade & Commerce has once again raised concerns about the potential impact of the proposed Tesco Superstore in Harrogate.

At the end of last year Tesco management denied the project was on hold and the superstore will be delivered by Christmas 2015.

The Chamber is now appealing to Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council to block their planned construction until all of the following issues are fully resolved to the satisfaction of local businesses and residents in the promised consultation.

The Chamber has also cited Tesco’s financial position as a factor in their document, as following a severe drop in profitability, Tesco is closing 43 unprofitable stores in UK.

This includes seven superstores, and they have scrapped plans for 49 new large stores in the UK that have yet to open.

Brian Dunsby of Harrogate Chamber said: “ We urge both the Borough and County Councils to put a hold on Tesco’s current plans for a new Superstore in Harrogate whilst qualified independent experts re-evaluate all the ten commercial, environmental, safety, technical and traffic risks summarised above, as detailed in earlier correspondence.

“Delaying construction of the proposed Harrogate Superstore will allow time for all of these issues to be more fully researched and effective solutions sought if practicable and economic.

“If they cannot be solved then the Superstore should not be built and the site should be sold and then released for a much needed small business park together with a large area of affordable housing.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .