Tesco ‘bad news for town traders’
March 7, 2008
Traders in Banbridge have held a meeting to oppose plans to build Ireland’s largest supermarket close to the town. An application has been made by Tesco for a 130,000sq ft store at The Outlet shopping centre on the County Down town’s outskirts.
Banbridge butcher Joe Quail’s family has run a business in Banbridge for over a century.
He says the plans would “decimate Banbridge town centre”.
“If you look just 10 miles away in Lurgan, it has been destroyed by out-of-town shopping.”
Glyn Roberts, chief executive of the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association, said the proposals were definitely bad news for Banbridge.
“It could well make Banbridge town centre a ghost town,” he said.
“And will ensure that many hundreds of local traders will have to close their doors, obviously resulting in job losses.
“Our message is very strong to the environment minister, to veto this application and support the local traders.”
www.tesco.com
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