Supermarket giant's delay is a roadblock for town revamp (From Warrington Guardian)

Supermarket giant's delay is a roadblock for town revamp

COORDINATORS of the Middlewich Vision initiative need to know if a supermarket giant plans to move to the town before they can press on with their plans for the centre.

Stephen Dent, project co-ordinator of Middlewich Vision, says the proposed growth of the town centre relies heavily on whether the area bounded by Wheelock Street, Darlington Street and Southway becomes the superstore's base.

Stephen believes a supermarket would directly affect actions identified in the Market Town's Healthcheck, making Middlewich more attractive to residents, visitors and other retailers.

It would also make the pedestrianisation of Wheelock Street more feasible. The road has narrow pavements and is considered dangerous for old people or parents with prams.

Stephen said: "We're investigating the potential for pedestrianising Wheelock Street, with a view to making it a market street, but shop owners are concerned because it would cut off access.

"A supermarket could incorporate rear access to Wheelock Street."

He said the introduction of a supermarket would increase the number of shoppers and help attract a different range of stores to the town.

In July, a spokeswoman for estate agents Reeds Rains, in Wheelock Street, announced developers Square One Properties Ltd had signed a leasing agreement with Tesco Stores Plc to design and build a supermarket in that area, but Tesco refused to confirm whether the development would go ahead.

Henry Elsby, manager at Reeds Rains, Middlewich, told the Guardian there had been interest in the site from various developers in the past seven years but said at present nothing was confirmed.

He said: "As far as I'm aware they are interested, but the main hold up is the fact that the site can't be assembled for reasonable figures."

Shaun Edgely, spokesman for Tesco, added: "Nothing has been confirmed. The reality is we do want to come to Middlewich but we still do not have a site considered suitable."

gsproston@guardiangrp.co.uk