HELD TO RANSOM (From Stourbridge News)

HELD TO RANSOM

TRADERS claim their town is now being held hostage by Tesco' after supermarket bosses snapped up a key site vital to Stourbridge's regeneration.

Chamber of Trade spokesman Alan Fisher hit out at the supermarket giant at the Chamber's latest meeting this week, saying its planned take-over of the old Morrisons store in the Crown Centre could hold up a much-needed revamp of the ailing shopping centre.

He said: "The redevelopment of the Crown Centre is something that's long overdue - but this doesn't sound too promising.

"This town is now being held hostage by Tesco."

His comments come just after supermarket rival Sainsburys put an end to speculation and finally confirmed it had been interested in moving into the Crown Centre to help kickstart regeneration in that part of town.

Stourbridge councillor Malcolm Knowles, Dudley Council's cabinet member for regeneration, also expressed scepticism over Tesco's intentions for the town last week, saying: "Either Tesco have decided to move into the Crown Centre and develop it or alternatively they've decided to stop anyone else doing it by taking just one unit."

New Chamber president Chris Icke and LSD Promotions director Dermot McGillicuddy also raised fears Tesco could be trying to put the blockers on Sainsburys' bid to come to town.

Tesco have so far only confirmed they intend to provide a limited presence' in the town while they await the outcome of their appeal against Dudley Council's refusal to grant planning permission for a massive superstore on the Angel Triangle.

Spokesman Julian Walker Palin said: "The move reinforces our long standing desire to create a store to serve the local people of Stourbridge."

Meanwhile Sainsburys' head of property development, Chris Templeman, said the supermarket chain had been in detailed talks with the Crown Centre landlords over bringing in Sainsburys as part of a wider refurbishment of the centre.

He added: "The news that Morrisons has sold its lease to Tesco is very frustrating and seriously compromises our ability to provide a Sainsburys for the shoppers of Stourbridge.

"We are still keen to have a store in Stourbridge and will be in re-evaluating our position in light of recent events, over the next few weeks."

Tesco spokesman Julian Walker-Palin however hit back saying Sainsburys had the same opportunity as Tescos to acquire the Morrisons lease.

He added: "We are serious about attracting people back into Stourbridge with a new store , which is why we have taken this step.

"We are shortly due to meet with the Crown Centre owners Modus to look at whether it's appropriate for us to get involved with their plans for redevelopment or whether we should look at providing a limited store in the old Morrisons unit."

Stourbridge town centre manager Matt Caddick said: "The council would like to see the best option for the Crown Centre and the town centre in the long term."