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Will Gainsborough’s Tesco store expand in 2013?
Proposed new Tesco in Gainsborough.
AMBITIOUS plans to build a huge new Tesco Extra superstore on the site of the existing Beaumont Street supermarket have been in place for years - but will they start work in 2013?
The new Tesco Extra would be nearly double the size of the old store and create a further 200 jobs for the town.
It would feature new facilities and be raised off the ground on stilts - with car parking underneath.
After gaining planning permission back in 2008, the development was originally expected to be completed years ago. Tesco was granted permission once again in March of last year when the company had to re-apply.
Now Tesco bosses say they ‘remain hopeful’ that the expansion will come soon.
The development could co-incide with work to build 2,500 homes in a ‘new neighbourhood’ on land south of Foxby Lane that would see Tesco double in size. Many argue that the expansion is necessary to deal with the expected vast increase in population for Gainsborough.
A Tesco spokesman said that the firm remained optimistic for the year ahead.
“It is still our intention to start building works in Gainsborough in the future,” he said.
“The public will be informed as soon as we are able to offer a time frame for when our plans will be operational in Gainsborough.”
For the store to expand, the current Tesco branch near Marshall’s Yard and McDonald’s would have to close for the construction work to be carried out.
When the plans were first given the green light, Tesco bosses said that their presence ‘had been great for Gainsborough and has actually pulled more people into the town’.
They continued: “People who might have gone elsewhere for their shopping have come here and also had a look around Gainsborough.”
“We would say to all the shop owners in Gainsborough that this is a wonderful opportunity – this new Tesco store will bring a lot more people into the town.”
Dawn Barren runs the Barren Bou clothes boutique, on Lord Street, and is a member of the Independent Retailers Group in Gainsborough.
“At this present time and the way trade is, I don’t think that Tesco expanding would make any difference to town centre trade,” she said.
“People only have a certain amount of money to spend, and that isn’t very much. Plus people go to Tesco for very different reasons and so I can’t see it distracting any more trade from the town centre.”
But shoppers have often seemed keen to see the new store built to improve choice and increase visitors to the town.
Local resident Natalie Baxter said: “Gainsborough is getting worse with more and more houses and less jobs. The town is going down hill and they need to update things big time to bring in more jobs. Just stop building houses that are standing empty.”
Jonny Bew said: “Anything for a bigger freezer section.” While Michael Gould added: “I’d replace Tesco with an Asda.”
- What do YOU think of the plans to expand Tesco in Gainsborough?
Get in touch and let us know by emailing newsroom@gainsboroughstandard.co.uk or write to: Letters Page, 5 - 7 Market Place, Gainsborough, DN21 2BP.
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Wednesday 22 May 2013
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