Brown in £1m bid to stop Tesco closure

GORDON Brown is to offer Tesco a £1 million-a-year sweetener deal in a last ditch attempt to persuade them to reverse their decision on a closure-hit store.

The former Prime Minister and senior figures from Fife Council are to present the retail giant with an option of rent and rates reductions saving Tesco £1m a year, which they say would turn the loss-making store in his Kirkcaldy constituency into profitability.

The MP will also submit new information to the retail giant about future proposals for the development of Kirkcaldy town centre, which he hopes will make them reconsider their plans for closure.

Tesco confirmed last week it is to shut the branch in the Fife town in April with the loss of 189 jobs despite pleas to save the store which incorporates the area Post Office which serves more than 4,000 pensioners.

Campaigners have made repeated calls for the retailer to rethink the move, saying the store has become the hub of a community whose high street has been decimated. Tesco has already ruled out several rescue proposals.

Mr Brown will meet Tesco Chief Executive Dave Lewis today, accompanied by Fife Council leaders David Ross and Neil Crooks.

He said his major concern was the franchised Post Office, adding he had negotiated a better deal for Tesco to run the service if they stay in Kirkcaldy.

He also claimed when Tesco announced its plans to shut down the store, it neglected to consult in advance over the future of the postal service, with the nearest main Post Office is eight miles away in Glenrothes.