Superstore set for Crown Centre (From Stourbridge News)

Superstore set for Crown Centre

THE news Tesco is to move into the town's ailing Crown Centre has been cautiously welcomed by residents and traders.

cllr Malcolm Knowles.

Bosses for the supermarket giant announced plans to take over the disused Morrisons store just before the Christmas break, just weeks after lodging an appeal against Dudley Council's refusal of planning permission for a superstore on the Angel Triangle site.

Tesco spokesman Julian Walker-Palin said the idea would be to provide a "limited presence" in the ghost-ship shopping centre while the appeal is considered.

He said: ''The move reinforces our long standing desire to create a store to serve the local people of Stourbridge."

Stourbridge MP Lynda Waltho welcomed the plan.

She said: "The Crown Centre has been slowly dying as store by store has moved out. Along with most residents and shoppers I welcome any interest shown by any supermarket chain to breathe new life into the town.

"The council said they would prefer interest in the Crown Centre rather than the Angel Triangle so I am pleased to see Tesco has been able to oblige in this matter."

Alan Fisher, from Stourbridge Chamber of Trade, said: "The Chamber had hoped to see the Crown Centre re-developed but news of any prestigious retailer coming to Stourbridge has got to be good for the town."

Stourbridge councillor Malcolm Knowles' reaction was also somewhat cautious.

He said: "Either Tesco have decided to move into the Crown Centre and develop it, which would be wonderful, or alternatively they've decided to stop anyone else doing it by taking just one unit. It depends what their intention is."

Meanwhile supermarket bosses are awaiting the outcome of their appeal.

Tesco's Julian Walker-Palin added: "We carried out widespread consultation on our proposals with the public who in the majority supported our plans.

"We would have expected the planning application and the public's views to have been considered by the elected members of the council.

"We feel we have no choice but to ask the Planning Inspectorate to appoint an Inspector so each side can have its position examined at a Public Inquiry.

"We firmly believe there is an overwhelming case for a new store capable of competing with other large stores and centres in the area which will attract trade back into the centre of Stourbridge."

Chris Icke, Stourbridge Chamber of Trade president, said: "We'd prefer a store inside the ring road - the only thing is it might delay the revamp of the Crown Centre."