Talks on store closure plan to go on after Brown meets Tesco chief
FORMER Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said talks to save a Tesco store described as a hub of a community are to continue after a meeting with the supermarket chain’s chief executive.
The MP met with Dave Lewis in a bid to save the shop in his constituency in Kirk- caldy, Fife, where a Post Office is also sited, with a £1 million rescue proposal.
The plan to close the store with the loss of 189 jobs as part of a wider exercise to shut 43 shops in total in the UK has met with with huge local opposition and Mr Brown has joined campaigners as a mediator.
He said: “Tesco has agreed that the main Kirkcaldy Post Office will be offered the chance to remain on its Tesco site in the town centre for the time being while the council’s other proposals for Tesco to stay are examined.
“We have shown Tesco how they could save nearly £1 million.
“We have shown them that far from Kirkcaldy being a declining market, it is growing.
“The market they are proposing to abandon is about to see 5,000 more homes built.”
He continued: “We have shown Tesco that in Kirkcaldy centre 37 per cent of households do not have access to a car or van.
“It will be difficult for current customers to access the nearest store, which is a Tesco Metro at Cardenden six miles away.
““I am pleased that there will continue to be a main Post Office in the town centre and that Tesco will allow it to continue for the time being on their site.”
Fife council leader David Ross said: “We are ready to enter into any discussions that could retain Tesco and help keep the town centre vibrant.”
A spokesman for Tesco said: “We were pleased to meet Mr Brown”