Tesco Maryhill – Pie in the Sky?

Tesco has been challenged by local politicians to move on their plans from 2004, to redevelop their Maryhill store. Glasgow North MP, Ann McKechin and Maryhill MSP Patricia Ferguson have called on the company to invest some of its £2.95 billion record profits in the local area.
Patricia Ferguson recently launched a campaign in the Scottish Parliament to get a share of the £60 million Town Centre Regeneration Fund to improve Maryhill. She commented: ‘We are campaigning hard to get the Scottish Government to commit money for this much needed re-development. Now that Tesco has announced huge profits, it needs to show willingness to play its part in Maryhill too.’
Glasgow North MP, Ann McKechin, commented: ‘People in Maryhill have been putting money into Tesco’s tills for years – now it’s time for Tesco to show its commitment to them and invest some of its record profits in redeveloping its Maryhill store.’
The politicians have written to Tesco urging the company to make a firm commitment to the Maryhill development and to confirm a start date.
But all that Tesco would reveal was a re – cycled statement. Maryhill Shopping Centre Corporate Affairs Manager Jennifer Duncan told the LOCAL NEWS: ‘We understand local people’s disappointment at the delay to the redevelopment of Maryhill Shopping Centre.We continue to work towards finding a solution and believe this is an exciting local project.
‘We have been open about the challenges we face and are happy to discuss these.’
Tesco bosses have blamed the delay on technical problems related to part of the proposed site, which lies above a disused railyway line.
However Strathclyde Partnership for Transport said it was keen to work with the company to reach a solution.
Tesco plans show an increase in the size of its current store from 5800sq m to 8260sq m. The new store would be elevated to allow underground parking and would be split over three levels. The 285-space car park will be extended to 515 spaces and staff would be increased from 160 to 300. But it is all in cold storage right now.