MP still waiting on evidence to back up Tesco promise

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

Rochdale’s MP Simon Danczuk has questioned the validity of promises made by Tesco at a public consultation event on proposals to build a Tesco supermarket just outside Littleborough town centre.

On 11 May Mr Danczuk attended a consultation event in Littleborough, where he asked for evidence to back up promises made on posters that, if approved, the Tesco store would “increase footfall in the town centre leading to spin off trade for independent businesses”.

Mr Danczuk said he believed the development would do the opposite to this claim.

“I asked for evidence to support this claim and was told research would be sent to my office,” he said. “Three months later I’m still waiting for it.

"There are plenty of examples where the introduction of a Tesco results in the closure of independent shops.

"My worry, and that of many other people in Littleborough, is that Tesco will suck trade and footfall out of the town and threaten local businesses.

"Littleborough is a great community with a distinctive identity and I think we need a greater awareness of what’s at stake here. I don’t want to see it turned into a ghost town.”

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

In Middleton, since the introduction of a Tesco in the town centre the level of empty shops has more than doubled.