Work to begin on new Tesco store on Monday

Councillors were told by Tesco officials at a special meeting n Tuesday that diggers would be on the old cattle market ssite on Monday morning, and they hoped the store would be open by November this year.

Plans for the development were lodged with the Planning Service in June 2007 amid a storm of controversy from existing traders who feared the effect such a large supermarket will have on their businesses. Despite that Tesco received planning permission for the 30,000 square foot store which they said will create 250 jobs in 2008.

MLA Thomas Burns said he was told at the meeting that work will go ahead at a rapid pace.

Mr Burns said that he had written to Tesco some time ago asking them when they planned to start work as Crumlin was to be included in an improvement scheme and he did not want residents unduly inconvenienced.

He said he was delighted the store would create employment in the area.

"I'm delighted that it is starting and that the recruitment for employment for the store will be local and will start as early as May," he said.

At the time that Tesco got their planning permission in 2008 Colin Hampsey, Corporate Affairs Manager for Tesco said:

"As Crumlin has a rapidly growing population, we have no doubt that this new store is needed in the area and will make the lives of the local people easier, saving them time and effort travelling to other towns to do their grocery shopping.

"In addition, the new store will include free car parking for around 300 vehicles and customers will be able to leave their car with us to walk to the other outlets in the town to finish off their shopping.

"As part of our commitment to the community we will recruit as many people as possible from the local area."

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