Tills slump could halt monster Milngavie Tesco plans
TESCO MILNGAVIE 1.12.09 PICTURE BY JAMIE FORBES
TESCO has been urged to “think again” over plans to build a monster new store in Milngavie - after store bosses signalled a major move in strategy on the back of a profits dip.
The supermarket giant had more than £4.3billion wiped from its share price recently as financial analysts issued the company with its first profit warning in 20 years following disappointing Christmas trading which saw its turnover fall by 2.3 per cent.
This has prompted a major re-think at the top of the company, with senior figures urging a ‘clicks not bricks’ policy of abandoning building huge Extra stores and focusing more on online retailing.
Tesco’s troubles have led to calls for it to scale back its vision for Milngavie in light of this new thinking at the top.
The company wants to massively overhaul its Gavin’s Mill operation, replacing the existing store with a much larger unit - moves which have already been knocked back by East Dunbartonshire Council and the Scottish Government.
Milngavie community activists launched a campaign to force Tesco to scale back, claiming the re-development would be ‘out of character’ with the town and could suck the life out of the precinct.
Now, as Tesco prepares to launch a new planning application for expansion, Milngavie MSP Gil Paterson has suggested that the apparent change in corporate strategy might signal a good time for the company to think again about its Milngavie plans.
He said: “This is a golden opportunity for Tesco to review their current plans for Milngavie and allow them to come up with something which is much more acceptable to the community.
“They are aware of the level of opposition towards their original submitted plan, so now would be a good time for them to come up with a suitable alternative.”
For full story, make sure you get your copy of this week’s Milngavie and Bearsden Herald, which is in shops now.
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Weather for Milngavie
Thursday 23 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 6 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: South west
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