A LEADING Southend businessman has pleaded with Southend Council to maintain its support for a new town centre Tesco store to boost trade.

Bill Harkness, managing director of the company which owns the Victoria shopping centre, said it would be a disaster for the High Street if the town was to lose the new supermarket.

He spoke out after Southend Council’s cabinet expressed concern over the scheme because Tesco had removed plans for new homes as part its scheme to redevelop the former B&Q site in the town centre.

Mr Harkness, whose company spent millions revamping the Victoria shopping centre, said: “I am worried if the council is only lukewarm on the scheme, Tesco may consider not going ahead at all and just the leave the site.

“I think that would be a disaster for this end of the High Street and could be very damaging to trade in the area.”

The new store on the B&Q site is planned to be linked by a walkway with the Victoria shopping centre, which has recently seen a rise in trade.

Mr Harkness said since the opening of a new Next store, there has been a substantial increase in the number of people passing through the centre.

He added: “We are now having talks with eight prospective new tenants, with some large companies among them which is good news although it is still hard work.”

He added the air show weekend had also been busy for the centre. He said: “Our free parking went down extremely well and the car park was absolutely packed.”