Tory anger at Tesco foreign bricks order

The bricks to be used to construct a £7 million new police station in the Black Country are set to be imported from Belgium.

The new-build police station in West Bromwich, which will be based on the corner of Moor Street and Bowater Street, is being paid for by developers Tesco, which has shunned local products to import the blocks, said to cost twice as much as standard bricks.

The decision has been criticised by local councillors for failing to use suppliers from British companies.

Councillor Tony Ward, leader of the Tory opposition on Sandwell Council said: "This is absurd. Don't we have any brickworks in this country?

"This whole development is supposed to be about the regeneration of West Brom-wich.

"Under these circumstances I cannot understand why it would be deemed appropriate to import bricks from abroad.

"We should be using local suppliers to boost the local economy - particularly during such difficult economic times - not going abroad to put cash in foreign coffers."

Tony Fletcher, corporate affairs manager at Tesco, said: "The bricks earmarked in the design for the new police station were chosen by the architects for their specific high density properties.

"If practically possible we do try and identify local suppliers, but when initial searches were made, we were unable to find any local firms that could fulfil the specific criteria.

"We are open to talk to local suppliers who might have knowledge of a new product that fits this specification."

Mr Fletcher added: "No firm orders have been placed and our business is still there to be won if the right product can be supplied."

The former police station in New Street will be demolished to make way for the new Tesco. The supermarket giant is spending £200 million on the regeneration of the town centre,

The application for the new police station is due to be submitted to Sandwell Council by August 27, for a decision in September.

The work has gone out to tender, with a contractor expected to be chosen next month.

* Tesco has asked anyone with details of suitable bricks available locally to call 0121 456 9312.