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Tesco confirms Woolies site takeover

6:00pm Monday 3rd August 2009 in


TESCO is taking over the former Woolworths building in Leigh Broadway.

After months of speculation, the supermarket giant has announced it will run the site as a Tesco Express, creating about 25 full and part-time jobs.

The shop has been vacant since January, when Woolworths closed after decades on the site.

Confirming the deal, Tesco spokeswoman Carol Leslie said: “We are really looking forward to bringing another store to the area to serve local people.

“The Woolworths premises will no longer be a closed store, which is good for the town.”

But Leigh town councillor Peter Dolby said the news was a double-edged sword which had both drawbacks and benefits.

He said: “My initial reaction is we have enough food retailers in the Broadway.

“But it’s nice it won’t be a big empty space anymore.

“I’m pleased it’s not going to be empty, but I would have much rather it had been something else, like a Next.”

John Lamb, Southend borough councillor responsible for enterprise, also extended a cautious welcome to the news.

Mr Lamb, who is the councillor for the west Leigh ward, said: “I’m pleased in a way, because, while I would like to see the site taken over by a department store rather than a supermarket, at least it’s an empty store being filled.”

Mr Lamb said although the news could have a negative impact on local stores, he thought shoppers would remain loyal and support independent retailers.

The takeover will see the premises subjected to a complete refit, and it will be open seven days a week. No opening date has been confirmed.

Comments(15)

leighbloke says...
6:48pm Mon 3 Aug 09

will I say what the others are thinking?

'oh no not another Tesco'


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leighman says...
6:55pm Mon 3 Aug 09

I see there's a pedestrian refuge in the left hand corner of the photograph, just imagine the congestion around Leigh Church when there's a stonking great artic doing a TESCO delivery parked outside the new store! One has to look no further than the London Road Westcliff branch for confirmation.
Also does this TESCO opening mean the death knoll for the planned London Road Leigh site? Probably not as it seems this god forsaken company will not be satisfied until there is one branch per 100 local populus!
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL CO_OP!!

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bytheway says...
9:08pm Mon 3 Aug 09

WE DO NOT WANT ANYMORE TESCO SELLING THEIR WARES AT INFLATED PRICES.
JUST GO HOME

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Nebs says...
12:19am Tue 4 Aug 09

Will they get a licence to sell alcohol. or are the enough outlets in the area already?

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imco says...
2:12am Tue 4 Aug 09

The councillors weakly say they're glad the site will no longer be empty. If people desert the local shops and herd mindlessly to the tesco monster how many other empty sites will appear?

I find it offensive that tesco is being allowed to get a foothold in Leigh, where we have for so many years been proud of our independence from monster chains!

I hope upon hope that people will continue to use their local Co-op and boycott this dreadful company.

We stopped using tesco years ago, to shop at local stores, and have found that we spend less and have better, fresher, food. BTW, before that I often shopped at the tesco at Thames Drive, where several times I bought fish that was in date but off. The store manager did not care a hoot, I attempted to complain to the company over his head, they were not at all interested, saying it was the responsibility of the store manager.

It's a numbers game, and they don't care one bit if their food is bad, people keep on buying it for some sad reason.


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SARFENDMAN says...
6:15am Tue 4 Aug 09

At least an empty space filled and if a TESCO take it over, so what. You takes you choice wherever you shop and if anything like other small Tescos could be pricey. Pity Tescos dont open a decent store in Rayleigh and give some competition to our dreadful Somerfields "convenience" Store.

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evilc says...
7:17am Tue 4 Aug 09

Tesco has a plan it is called:

Capitalist Communism

What happens eventually is Tescos sell at good prices and open until late ALL the surrounding local traders go out of business because they cannot compete THEN Tescos has the monopoly.

It has happened in many other areas and in other countries, Tescos will rule the world.

Sarfendman in Thailand many small local shops had to shut because of Tesco's which caused a great deal of poverty for many local shopkeepers and farmers in a country that already suffers away from the tourist areas, so the saying you takes your choice might be very debatable soon.


Local Councils love to see shops full BUT others will eventually close.


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anon anon says...
7:47am Tue 4 Aug 09

leighbloke wrote:
will I say what the others are thinking? 'oh no not another Tesco'
better than another pound shop

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SARFENDMAN says...
8:46am Tue 4 Aug 09

evilc wrote:
Tesco has a plan it is called: Capitalist Communism What happens eventually is Tescos sell at good prices and open until late ALL the surrounding local traders go out of business because they cannot compete THEN Tescos has the monopoly. It has happened in many other areas and in other countries, Tescos will rule the world. Sarfendman in Thailand many small local shops had to shut because of Tesco's which caused a great deal of poverty for many local shopkeepers and farmers in a country that already suffers away from the tourist areas, so the saying you takes your choice might be very debatable soon. Local Councils love to see shops full BUT others will eventually close.
I take your point but an informed choice is still there in a democratic society unlike Thailand as is buying FAIRTRADE, FREE RANGE and the likes. Tesco's succeed because rightly or wrongly the public demand is there. It's up to everyone, including you to bang the drum and sway public opinion. Cant do that in Thailand.

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StuckInTraffic says...
9:46am Tue 4 Aug 09

"SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL CO-OP" What a strange thing to say. Your Local Co-Op (Manchester based company) vs. TESCO (Cheshunt based company) Cheshunt is a lot closer to us than Manchester. I am not a fan of huge TESCO like companies, but the majority of people are, as can be seen by their success. It is all down to personal choice, and at the moment the masses are choosing the big chains as it is convenient. As an aside if you were in Manchester you would be saying the opposite, you would welcome a Tesco to provide some competition to Co-Op.

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DannyK86 says...
9:52am Tue 4 Aug 09

Whilst I don't have a problem with a tesco on london road, it's a shame there'll be one on the Broadway if it damages any of the fine local independent stores. I like Tesco as working there for 4 years paid my way through uni, and the range and price of products is pretty good for a convenience store, but I do worry about the impact it might have locally.

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imco says...
10:55am Tue 4 Aug 09

It's not just the 'convenience' stores, like Co-op and CostCutters, which for small shops have a good choice, it's the fishmongers, butchers and greengrocers that will suffer. Also florists, bakers, sandwich bars, I bet they'll sell bagels too. Where would we be with all of those gone??

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colromcolumn says...
11:38am Tue 4 Aug 09

I would rather see the co-op and local independent trade prosper on the Broadway, and will continue to support them.

However, it seems that our parish council have retreated in the face of this recession.
The sorry story of the new Amusement Arcade was the start. Perhaps we should withhold the Leigh council tax supplement until the parish council locates its sea legs again.

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leighwoman says...
6:49pm Tue 4 Aug 09

i personally cant wait to buy my pre-packed sandwich in the new tesco express before heading off to the amusement arcade (which apparently is aimed at the 'lunchin ladies' brigade then pickin my way through streets packed out with new flats to eventually find my house (which also has a flats application goin on very nearby!) oh leigh is on the up and up!!!!

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leighman says...
8:39pm Tue 4 Aug 09

StuckInTraffic, Wickford says...
9:46am Tue 4 Aug 09

"SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL CO-OP"

Taken in the wrong context sir (or madam) perhaps existing would have been more apt?
However think what a choice us lucky? inhabitants of Leigh now have! 3 x Co-ops, 2 possible 3 Tesco. 1 x Waitrose. 1 x Londis. 1 x Iceland. And of course just the other side of Chalkwell Avenue the soon to be opened ALDI and yet another TESCO! Spoilt for choice aren't we!!

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