MAJOR retailers are being deterred from coming to Huddersfield because of Kirklees Council’s “close relationship” with supermarket giant Tesco, says the town’s MP.

Barry Sheerman said department store group John Lewis had identified Huddersfield as a potential site for a Waitrose supermarket.

But it had said its interest would stop if Tesco got the go-ahead for its proposed new store at Southgate.

However, Clr Ken Sims, Kirklees Cabinet’s member for regeneration, dismissed suggestions that the council was favouring Tesco.

He said Kirklees was in talks with a wide range of businesses.

Mr Sheerman was speaking after meeting John Lewis chairman Charlie Mayfield, when the MP sounded him out about his company opening a store in the town.

Mr Sheerman said Mr Mayfield told him Huddersfield was not viewed as big enough for a John Lewis store, but that the group was interested in the town as a possible site for a Waitrose store.

The Labour MP said: “John Lewis’s assessment is that they would like to be a prime candidate as anchor tenant for the Queensgate Revival programme.

“But if Tesco got planning permission for a new store on the site of the sports centre they would quickly lose interest.

“They would be happy to come as the situation stands, but not once a new Tesco store shifts the focus of the town centre to the other side of the ring road.”

Mr Sheerman added: “This sends out a clear message to Kirklees. It is time the leadership of the council reflected on the damage done by having such a close relationship with a single retailer at a time when they need to be talking to a range of retailers.

“If I am getting this response when I talk to the chairman of John Lewis it’s time for the council to think again.”

Mr Sheerman said he supported Kirklees in its “good and ambitious” schemes to revive the Queensgate and Piazza area and expand the Galpharm Stadium site.

But he said the council’s close ties with Tesco were putting off potential investors in the town.

However, Clr Sims hit back, saying: “The council is in discussions with a wide range of businesses interested in investing in Huddersfield and, indeed, throughout Kirklees.

“This is done on a purely professional business relationship.

“We have to balance each individual proposal with the benefits to our constituents, the creation of wealth and jobs and the quality and cost-effectiveness of the goods or services to be provided, as well as design and impact on the environment.

“The schemes that proceed will be determined both by statutory planning process and, within that context, by the commercial decisions of developers and operators.”

Clr Sims added: “Barry seems to forget that Tesco has invested in Huddersfield for many years and thousands of his constituents shop every day in the existing store. So the company must be giving customer satisfaction.

“Barry knows my door has always been open to him and I am pleased he is giving his support to Queensgate and the rest of the regeneration of the town.

“It is in these recessionary times that we all need to work together. I look forward to Barry using his position as MP to bring whatever resources from Government he can to benefit his constituents and Huddersfield.”

John Lewis has 69,000 permanent staff who are partners in the business. It has 27 John Lewis department stores, 192 Waitrose supermarkets and an online catalogue business.

Under the Tesco plan Huddersfield Sports Centre and the Ibbotson and Lonsbrough flats would be levelled to make way for a superstore.

Tesco’sViaduct Street store would be demolished so the firm could use the land for housing, offices, shops and a hotel. A sports centre would be built on the Springwood car park.

Objectors say the new store will drag trade away from town centre shops.

The council’s Queensgate Revival plan calls for a new library, art gallery and information centre, a three-storey department store, a 100-bed hotel, 100 homes, a new market hall, bars, restaurants and up to 900 parking spaces.