Still no start date for Linwood

Sep 2 2010 by Andy Newport, Paisley Daily Express

TESCO chiefs were slammed yesterday for failing to set a date for work to begin on rebuilding Linwood’s crumbling town centre.

And it may be another four weeks before supermarket chiefs can even ANNOUNCE when they hope to have builders on site.

We understand that Tesco bosses hope to confirm the date for work to begin on the eyesore site sometime between “mid and late September” – but workmen may not arrive on site for some time after that.

Politicians Wendy Alexander and Jim Sheridan have hit out at the supermarket giants for the lack of action in geting work started on the site.

Paisley North MSP Ms Alexander blasted: “Tesco have dithered and delayed far too long. The people of Linwood feel mightily let down. In early 2007, there was no talk of a three of four year delay before building work got underway.

“If the company’s interest goes back many more years, then it is all the more important we get a start date now, a construction timetable, a completion date and the promised local jobs.

“Above all, there can be no trimming on the promised scheme, including the new health centre and the planned new community facilities. All must be built as soon as possible.

“Tesco need to understand it is the future of a whole town centre that is at stake – not just a store. Linwood needs a new library, a new Tweedie Hall, a new health centre and new small shops. All are long overdue.

“It is now almost two years since planning permission was granted and work should have started on site. Anything less now seems like more bad faith.

The fed-up people of the town were promised a new multi-million-pound town centre three years ago but despite winning planning permission, Tesco have yet to lay down a single brick.

Work was held up after the grim discovery of four corpses at the site earlier this year and the company had to go to the Court of Session in Edinburgh to get permission to exhume the human remains.

That was granted in July but the bodies have still to be removed,.

Paisley North MSP Ms Alexander said: “Tesco have dithered and delayed far too long. The people of Linwood feel mightily let down. In early 2007, there was no talk of a three of four year delay before building work got underway.

“If the company’s interest goes back many more years, then it is all the more important we get a start date now, a construction timetable, a completion date and the promised local jobs.

“Above all, there can be no trimming on the promised scheme, including the new health centre and the planned new community facilities. All must be built as soon as possible.

“Tesco need to understand it is the future of a whole town centre that is at stake – not just a store. Linwood needs a new library, a new Tweedie Hall, a new health centre and new small shops. All are long overdue.

“It is now almost two years since planning permission was granted and work should have started on site. Anything less now seems like more bad faith.”

And Mr Sheridan, the MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North MP, added: “The recent news report which has cast doubts on Tesco’s role in the decline and subsequent plans for regeneration of Linwood town centre gives rise to some serious concerns for both my constituents and myself.

“However, whilst I would welcome a fuller investigation, my first priority is ensuring that my constituents in Linwood are provided with the new town centre development they were promised three years ago.

“With the disinterment of the bodies due to take place soon, I am keen that the project does not lose further momentum and work can be undertaken to clear the site and for work on the new centre to commence.”

A spokesman for Tesco said: “Our regeneration plans for Linwood are well supported locally and consist not only of a Tesco store but also a range of community facilities such as a new health centre and library.

“We are creating hundreds of jobs, many of which will be given to the long term unemployed from the local area.

“We put our proposals to local people at the earliest opportunity once the site was ready. Linwood town centre has suffered a decline that began before our involvement and it is our plans that will bring in the investment it needs.”

It has also emerged that Tesco used a “front” company to help them win over local support and political backing for their plans.

Previous owners Balmore Properties were slammed after they allowed the town centre to slide into a state of disgrace, with some locals dubbing the centre “Scotland’s Basra”.

A “Boot Out Balmore” campaign was even set up by furious Linwood residents.

Now it’s been confirmed that Tesco had business dealings with the firm long before they “rode to the rescue” and paid around £1.7million to take the site off Balmore’s hands, with further suggestions alleging that they used Balmore to run down the site so their plans would be welcomed by locals with open arms.

Ms Alexander said: “The Balmore revelations will only increase local cynicism. Those Tesco representatives who came to Linwood and convened community meetings about their future plans should hang their heads in shame about the delays, mismanagement of the site, and shocking lack of community engagement.”