Plans for a key Huddersfield town centre site are uncertain after Tesco pulled the plug on a new store.
Opposition councillors urged Kirklees Council officers to have an urgent face to face meeting with Tesco to thrash out a way forward.
It was claimed that Tesco have invested £10m in the scheme.
Tesco told the Examiner that it’s too early to say what their plans are for the huge Southgate site, but added: “It is something we will be meeting Kirklees Council to talk about and keeping the community updated.”
They say it’s too early to say if the current Huddersfield store in Viaduct Street will be improved, or if other local Tesco stores are among the 43 set for closure.
A Tesco spokesperson added: “Our first priority is to consult colleagues who are impacted by these changes and we will be speaking to them over the coming weeks.”
The retail giant has an agreement with the council to part-fund the new Huddersfield Leisure Centre in Springwood, although full financial details have not been revealed.
Clr Peter McBride, Cabinet member, met with council officers on Friday and said: “Tesco’s investment in the town amounted to more than £10m and so far they have little to show for it.
“They have paid for a sports centre and got nowt out of it.
“The council are seeking an early meeting with Tesco to discuss the future of the site. Ideally, what is in their interest will become what is in our interest.
“What has happened is no great surprise. The real issue is what is going to happen to the land and the flats – are they going to be flattened?”
Clr Robert Light, Conservative leader, was council leader in 2007, when the Tesco deal got underway. He said: “This should all have been done by now. The sports centre should have opened in 2012, the supermarket should be open and the regeneration of the old Tesco site should be underway.”
Asked if the financial deal will stick, Clr Light replied: “I hope so, you never can tell if Tesco will get their legal people onto it. There is uncertainty and I hope the council can thrash it out. It’s clearly a complex deal, but the obligations on all sides were clear.”
Clr Nicola Turner, Lib Dem leader, said her group will be calling for a debate at Wednesday’s Full Council.
She said: “I am disappointed but not surprised. Clearly the end of town where Tesco remains is not going to get the regeneration planned, so we need to sit down and have a brainstorming session about how to get regeneration for the town centre. We’re being told the land sale deal is legally binding, but all that means is we can sue them if they backtrack on it.
“I hope it doesn’t come to that, perhaps we should be looking at putting some of our reserves aside in case this doesn’t work out as the deal suggests.”
Clr Andrew Cooper, Green leader, said: “There is a big question mark about the whole process of planning and public inquiry which has resulted in a huge amount of money wasted.
“I’d like to see the site used for housing for young people with affordable rents there now.”
