Yet more delays over supermarket plans (From Gazette Series)

Yet more delays over supermarket plans

THE PROJECT to bring a supermarket to Dursley has been dubbed a laughing stock this week after it was revealed there would be further delays to the re-marketing process.

Tesco withdrew from negotiations for the Castle Street site earlier this year after they bought Cam Co-op.

Stroud District Council then announced that the process of finding a new bidder for the site would be re-started, with more information available in September.

This week it was revealed that a new agent was being appointed to work on the project because the district council had not been happy with the previous one.

Dursley Town councillor Geoff Wheeler criticised the district council for leaving people in the dark.

"It was a year ago when we drew attention to the lack of information from Stroud District Council on the progress to develop a supermarket in Dursley town centre," he said.

"The leader, Cllr Chas Fellows, says on the council website that he is pleased to answer questions about the work of the council.

"So come on, tell the people of Dursley, the town council, the Chamber of Trade, Vale Vision, and even the district councillors for Dursley, what you've got planned for their town.

"Perhaps a little more discussion with those people most affected by any proposal might lift a bit of the scepticism, and laughter, whenever the words Dursley and new supermarket are mentioned by the district council in the same utterance."

Cllr Hilary Fowles (Lab), a Dursley representative on the district council, said she had been pressing for more information, after September's promised announcement had not been made.

She said: "There is a draft brief for the site in place but the re-marketing has not begun. This is because the council was not happy with the agent who had been working on the project for them.

"They are going to appoint a new agent. This has been advertised and they are interviewing this week.

"Once a new agent is in place we will know what the timetable is and a council officer has promised that he will come to Dursley and run through the process with ward members."

Cllr Fowles said she was pleased that councillors would finally be put in the picture but criticised the district council for promising announcements but not making actually them.

"I do wonder why the council even bothers announcing a date when it is going to make something happen, as they almost never manage to keep to it.

"I don't think this is good enough for Dursley after what we have been through already. I will keep asking questions."

District council spokesman Dave Marshall confirmed on Wednesday that the Castle Street site was to be re-marketed following Tesco's withdrawal from negotiations.

He said: "With a view to taking a fresh approach the landowners, Stroud District Council, Gloucestershire County Council and Stroud College, are intending to appoint a new agent this week and agree the re-marketing process.

"This will be implemented in time for new bids to be received before Christmas 2005."

He added that the landowners had a legal requirement to obtain the best deal for the community.