Tesco at Little Lever - Will they, Won't they ???

 

Tesco 'committed' to building new supermarket in Little Lever

Wednesday 19th June 2013

 

Supermarket giant Tesco has dismissed rumours that plans to build a new store in Little Lever have been scrapped.

Villagers attending Monday’s Little Lever area forum said they understood that plans to develop a supermarket on the on the site of the former Pennine Pets Factory, on the corner of Lever Street and Crossley Street, had been axed.

Planning bosses granted the supermarket permission to build a 2,778sqm store just over a year ago — but work has still not started on the complex.

This week, Tesco, responding to the rumours, said they would open a new supermarket in the village.

A Tesco spokesman said: "We are committed to bringing a new and improved store to Little Lever to replace our existing Metro.”

Plans for a new Tesco were first unveiled n May 2011 and would replace the existing Tesco Metro in Market Street.

The proposals split the community with those for and against staging campaigns — and public meetings were also called.

The plans won the backing of Bolton Council, which gave Tesco permission to build the shop.

Supermarket bosses said the new store would incorporate green features including a timber frame, rainwater harvesting, and wind catchers.

It will have car parking, a service yard and landscaping, and there will also be road alterations to accommodate the increase in traffic and ease congestion.

Changes include making Lever Street one-way, widening Ainsworth Road and adding a puffin crossing, replacing Church Street’s zebra crossing with another puffin crossing, relocating the bus stops in Ainsworth Road and Market Street, and adding traffic-calming measures to Ainsworth Road and Victory Road

The existing Tesco Express, in Market Street, will close and its 49 staff will be moved to the new shop, while an extra 100 new jobs would be created.

Tesco said the new plans would regenerate a derelict site and provide a modern shopping environment for customers.

The Tesco spokesman added: “As soon as the timescale becomes clear we will update the community on our plans."

Work has to be started within three years of the plans being given permission.