The people of Glenrothes should boycott Tesco now the supermarket giant has shelved plans to build a new store in the town, a local councillor has suggested.
Fiona Grant says she will be voting with her purse and refusing to shop with the company, after it controversially walked away from plans that would have brought 400 jobs and rejuvenated the town centre.
The decision was announced this week, despite years of promises and a bitter dispute with fellow supermarket giant Sainsbury’s to secure the coveted site. It has led to further questions about Tesco’s commitment to other sites in Fife, including Cupar and Dunfermline.
Councillor Grant, of the SNP, was speaking at a full meeting of Fife Council on Thursday when she made her declaration, an example of the strength of feeling displayed in the chamber towards the supermarket firm.
“I don’t have the words to express what I feel about Tesco but I do have a purse,” she said. “We can scream, shout, and ask for reports but money is the only language that they understand. I urge the people of Glenrothes not to spend their money in Tesco.”
The anger of councillors stemmed from the hope that a new supermarket in the heart of Glenrothes would rejuvenate the wider town centre and attract new stores and investment.
Though Sainsbury’s was seen as the company likely to build on the North Street site as far back as 2007, Tesco won the “store wars” with a last-minute bid in 2011.
Although planning permission was finally confirmed in May, there remained a strong belief from some councillors that a Tesco store would never materialise.
There was widespread condemnation of the company by councillors, with its attitude branded as “disgraceful” by one member.
Bryan Poole, independent representative for Cupar, said he had major concerns over a planned expansion of a store in his community, which was granted approval in 2010. Only a small amount of work has taken place at the site on South Road and it has been fenced off to the public.
Mr Poole said: “Tesco has been disgraceful throughout Fife and it has been the same in Cupar. It is about time that Fife Council took action. Their behaviour is appalling and it is time that we do whatever we can.”
Opposition leader Peter Grant said he would only believe Tesco’s promises about opening a store in Dunfermline before Christmas 2014 “when the tills start to ring”.
He added that the “games of chess” played by corporations “might be good for the supermarkets but they have been catastrophic for Glenrothes.”
Altany Craik, chairman of the Glenrothes area committee, said this week’s announcement at least provided clarity over the situation.
Many councillors had openly expressed doubt that the firm would ever build a store in Glenrothes, despite receiving planning consent.
Now that the company has confirmed it will no longer open a store, Councillor Craik says there is an opportunity to shape a new vision for the town.
“There is now no uncertainty,” said the Labour councillor. “I agree we have an opportunity to drive forward a new vision of the town centre.
“Uncertainty was a handbrake but now that uncertainty is off.”
In statement, Tesco told The Courier: “We are reviewing our plans in Cupar to ensure we get the right-size store to best serve local customers, which may require a new planning application.
“In addition to Dunfermline, we are also working to bring forward developments in Cowdenbeath and Leven.”