Tesco’s fighting talk on store plan

Tesco today came out fighting and insisted it is still determined to build Wombourne’s first supermarket despite having its multi-million pound plans thrown out by South Staffordshire planning chiefs.

The supermarket giant followed in the footsteps of rivals Sainsbury’s when its proposals to branch out into the picturesque village were rejected by planners.

But bosses are insisting they will continue with their battle and are studying the reasons why the application was rejected on Tuesday.

Spokesman Tony Fletcher said today: “We are obviously very disappointed that the plans were refused.

“We are looking at all of the reasons why the plans were turned down so we can decide on our next step.

“From all of the feedback we have had, residents have said that a supermarket is something they need in Wombourne,” he said.

“We are still very much committed to building a supermarket in Wombourne and so now we are deciding which route to take.”

Sainsbury’s was the first store giant to announce multi-million pounds to set up a supermarket in the village, after snapping up a vacant factory unit on Heath Mill Road industrial estate, off the Bridgnorth Road.

And Tesco followed just days later after it emerged bosses were in negotiations to buy the Static Systems site just yards from the site owned by its rivals.

Both had hoped to win over planning chiefs with promises of bringing hundreds of jobs to the village and dozens of residents signed petitions supporting the supermarket plans.