Tesco push for progress

PLANS to build a Tesco supermarket in Hailsham town centre are gaining momentum and pressure is growing from the firm's bosses for something to happen soon.

PLANS to build a Tesco supermarket in Hailsham town centre are gaining momentum and pressure is growing from the firm's bosses for something to happen soon.

For four years, the big-chain corporation has been discussing its proposal with officers at the county and district councils, and it looks like a suitable agreement may soon be in sight.

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At the request of the two councils, Tesco's developers have included a number of extra features in their plans to benefit the people of Hailsham. The store would be at the top of North Street.

Chris Borkowski, the agent heavily involved in the negotiations on behalf of Tesco, said that every effort has been made to accommodate the wishes of all consulted parties.

Cafe

'We were asked to include a caf in the development plans, which we have done,' he said. 'The district council also wanted to see an "active frontage" made of glass rather than a plain brick wall.'

It is hoped the plans will finally enter the public consultation stage sometime towards the end of November. It will, said Mr Borkowski, be the end of a long and tedious series of talks with, and between, the county and district councils.

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However, it has been seven years since the Hailsham store was first proposed, so Tesco's directors are becoming eager to see action soon and are bearing down on their developers.

'We all want this to go ahead,' said Mr Borkowski. 'An awful lot of work has gone into the plans and the new local plan says a new supermarket will be needed in Hailsham. But our directors are starting to ask questions and they will not wait forever.

'They have invested considerably in Hailsham and have bought a lot of very expensive land in the town. If results do not come fairly soon, the directors could pull the plug on the whole project.'

The new superstore, which would be about the size of the Tesco in Uckfield with around 25,000 sq ft of sales space, would pull more traffic into the town centre.

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Tesco would pay for major improvements to the junction of High Street and North Street and fund alterations to make North Street two-way.

County council officers have also asked Tesco to build a new school for Marshlands Primary, which would be demolished to make way for the supermarket. Parts of Grovelands Primary School would also be rebuilt and revamped by the developers as part of the deal. These improvements have, according to Mr Borkowski, already been approved by the education authority.