A LEADING councillor claims redevelopment of a shabby Dudley site is being slowed by the woes of the supermarket business.

Cllr Judy Foster, Dudley cabinet member for regeneration, came under fire from opposition councillors about a lack of progress on a deal to redevelop the area around the eyesore Cavendish House in central Dudley.

Back in April council chiefs promised the eight-storey building in Trindle Road would be demolished “in the coming months” but since then a project, described by Dudley leader, Cllr David Sparks as hugely significant, appears to have stalled.

Opposition leader Cllr Patrick Harley told a meeting of Dudley Council’s cabinet on October 30: “We were promised by Cllr Foster there would be substantial progress, nothing has been done.”

Council leaders predicted hundreds of new jobs at a proposed new supermarket on the site but since many retailers, including the giant Tesco group, have seen a drop in profits.

Cllr Foster said: “Supermarkets are experiencing real difficulties; that has slowed things up a bit. We are continuing to work on expressions of interest, there are factors beyond our control.”

Cllr Foster added discussions were going on but they were confidential and commercially sensitive.

Cllr Harley was not impressed by Cllr Foster’s comments, speaking after the meeting he said: “Nothing will happen with Cavendish House until there is a change in control at the council, to blame it on Tesco is barmy.”