Simon Danczuk MP signs petition against Tesco development in Littleborough

Simon Danczuk with local campaigner Pat Sanchez and members of the Co-op

Rochdale’s MP has added his support to a campaign opposing plans for a new Tesco store in Littleborough.

Simon Danczuk recently signed the petition and met with representatives of the Co-op to discuss the likely impact of the new development on local businesses.

Tesco has already estimated that a new superstore would take away approximately £1.16million of convenience goods spending every year from the town centre, but local businesses believe this figure to be a very conservative estimate with the real figure being much higher.

“I am worried that a new Tesco store would hollow out the village and cause a number of local shops to close,” he said. “The same thing has happened in Middleton and there are planning battles going on all over the country to stop Tesco putting independent shops out of business. We need to protect the unique identity of places like Littleborough and I don’t want to see it turned into a ghost town.”

He added that despite being promised evidence from the developers of research to demonstrate how a Tesco store would bring extra footfall to the town, he had received nothing yet.

“I’ve yet to see any evidence that this would bring in extra business and I think they realise it would reduce trade available in the town,” he said. “This is something we have to look very seriously at.”