Council fears on Tesco bid

Tesco may not be allowed to move into the flagship store in Stourbridge's Crown Centre unless the firm can prove its long-term interest in the town.

Secret talks are going on within the legal department of Dudley Council over fears the store's move may just be a way of blocking supermarket rival Sainsbury's from opening a shop there.

The council has been in talks with leaseholders Modus about the Tesco application to find out what the supermarket's intentions are.

Traders fear that Tesco, which has taken over the lease from Morrisons, may not open a store there.

The firm has admitted it still intends to open a larger store at Angel Passage and there are concerns the Crown Centre store would just be a stop gap.

Regeneration councillor Malcolm Knowles today said that council officers were officially working out the council's response to Tesco's proposals for the Crown Centre and they may be able to say no if they felt the move would not benefit the town in the long term.

He said: "Officers will be looking at some kind of response to this. Talks are going on but it will not go to any committee.

A meeting of Stourbridge Chamber of Trade this week heard that Tesco requires consent from Dudley Council, which is responsible for letting the shops, as well as Modus Properties.

Stourbridge town centre manager Matt Caddick said: "The council will be meeting Modus and Tesco to find out what their intentions are. Whether it's a temporary store or a permanent one I can assure you the council will be looking to secure the best option for the town centre and the Crown Centre in the long term."

Tesco spokesman Julian-Walker-Palin said he could see no reason that the council would block the move to take over the empty supermarket.

He added that the former Morrisons store already had permission for retail use and he could not think of any grounds for refusal unless Tesco applied for new planning permission.