Tesco remains tight-lipped over new store plan
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
THE Highland Council has not heard from supermarket giant Tesco since December regarding its plans for a new store in Thurso, it has emerged.
Following a Freedom of Information (FoI) request, the John O’Groat Journal can reveal it has been four-and-a-half months since the supermarket last made contact with the local authority about the new development proposed for the former auction mart site in Ormlie Road.
Local councillors, who voiced their concerns to planning officials at the start of March about the condition of the site and asked about a likely timescale for work to proceed, have had no response.
In a document held by the local authority, it states the councillors are considering "formal action" over the site.
When contacted by the Groat this week, Thurso councillor Donnie Mackay declined to comment but insisted he and fellow councillor John Rosie had been working on something over the past few weeks and he hoped to have news for the community soon.
The last correspondence received by the Highland Council was from Tesco town planning manager Ben Train on December 2.
In the letter addressed to head of planning and building standards, Malcolm Macleod, Mr Train said Tesco was committed to developing the mart site and selling the existing store at Millbank. He added there was no update as to when work would start and no official documents include a start date.
Earlier correspondence held in the planning file shows the local authority’s principal planner, Ken McCorquodale, had inquired if planning permission had lapsed on the site in February.
However, planning permission is valid until January 17, 2013.
On Wednesday, Tesco unveiled a UK recovery plan as the firm’s profits in this country declined for the first time in more than 20 years.
Chief executive Philip Clarke pledged to cut store openings by more than a third this year while doubling the number of outlets which allow customers to collect online purchases.
This decision to cut store openings throws further doubt over the development of the Ormlie Road store.
The old mart site is currently strewn with rubble and several local Highland Council candidates have called for the site to be cleaned up.
A Highland Council spokesperson said: "We have written several times to Tesco expressing concern over the condition of the site and have had several assurances that work would be done to improve the appearance of the site."
Despite repeated attempts to contact Gloria Coats, Tesco’s corporate affairs manager for the North of Scotland, she could not be reached for comment.
Tony McElroy, who manages Tesco corporate and government affairs in Scotland, and town planning manager Mr Train could not be reached for comment either.
The Groat asked Tesco’s national press office for a general statement of intent regarding the site on Wednesday.
No response had been received at the time of going to press yesterday afternoon.
