Shoppers back bid for £10m retail park

Shoppers are backing a £10million retail park built minutes from the town centre.

Bosses behind the mooted Wallneuk development say they will create 140 jobs.

Traders say custom will be poached away from the struggling High Street and cost them £25m each year.

Planners are considering the proposals, which include a Lidl supermarket, and locals took to social media to insist more options will be good for Paisley.

Express readers took to our Facebook page to support the move.

Barry Gilfillan says more budget grocers would help hard- pressed visitors. He said: “The site is hardly out-of-town and, personally, I would love to see this happen.

“Our bills are going up faster than our wages, which in turn is leaving us with less money.

“The sooner these stores open the better.”

Owners of The Paisley Centre and Piazza Shopping Cent re say ex i s t i n g companies will face a challenge to stay open.

Their calls have been backed by Paisley First, which represents more than 600 firms in its business improvement district.

But Bruno Girolami believes fresh investment could draw more money into other shops nearby.

He said: “This might actually bring more business into the town, as it is only a short walk away from the centre of town.

“People could park there to go shopping in Lidl and then head into town.”

Hortons’ Coffee wants to open its first Scottish drivethru at the site of the former XS Superbowl and Home Bargains is also considering setting up on the plot previously owned by Tesco.

Debbie Whitehorn has concerns for the project and urged derelict units to be filled first. She said: “What’s wrong with using all the empty shops on the High Street?

“Would it not make sense to use what’s already there?”