For years Huddersfield’s residents have looked forward to shopping at a shiny new Tesco at Southgate.
And it seemed that day was approaching as a very shiny new leisure centre began sprouting out of Springwood as part of the plan whereby the old sports centre would be demolished and a new Tesco built.
But on Thursday the news finally arrived that many had been dreading – new Tesco CEO Dave Lewis, known as ‘Drastic’ Dave, had decided Huddersfield was one of the 49 stores that would not go ahead as part of his cutback plan. The retailer admitted it “quite simply could not afford” the plans given its straitened financial circumstances.
Just months ago an accounting scandal revealed a £263m hole in expected profits.
And it wasn’t just in Yorkshire that long-awaited plans were busily being scrapped. In Dartford, Kent, where Tesco had fought a decade-long battle to build an 8,000 sq m store, locals and community leaders were furious to find the plans had been shelved leaving them with a derelict area in the town centre.
Although the news is a blow to Huddersfield, taking away much-needed investment, the amount of wailing and gnashing of teeth will be slight compared to other towns and cities.
We are more likely to respond with a slight shrug of the shoulders and quickly get back to concentrating on whether Town can get a much-needed win against Watford today.
Indeed, when Tesco first began experiencing difficulties a couple of years ago there were those who wondered whether the plans would ever get off the ground. The company already had a perfectly serviceable store in Viaduct Street and as they owned the land at Southgate could afford to sit on their hands and wait for property prices to rise. The question now is what will happen at Southgate.
It is a large, key site and won’t lack for suitors.
Let’s hope this time there’s no last minute wobble at the altar.
