Market may be lost in Tesco plan

A shopping centre could be bulldozed to make way for a giant revamped Tesco, which will be built on part of the town's market site, the supermarket giant has revealed.

Brownhills' senior citizens' centre would also be flattened in the new proposal - which includes only three new shops instead of the 12 originally planned.

The scheme would take up half of the existing Brownhills Market site - axed after being deserted by traders in March - but a patch of wasteland next to Kwik Fit has been earmarked for the relocation of stalls.

Members of the senior citizens' centre are currently in talks about a new home, but there were fears today over the future of shopkeepers in Ravenscourt.

Brownhills Councillor Barbara Cassidy said: "This does leave me worried about what will happen to the traders in Ravenscourt and the users of the senior citizens centre.

"They are good little businesses and there is also concern about how the new Tesco will affect other traders on the High Street.

"I think the people at the senior citizens centre are also extremely concerned. It is a very, very well-run group and although they may be offered somewhere else, I understand they want their own self-contained premises."

She added that she had been told the new development on land between High Street and Silver Street, would see an extra 81 parking spaces added to the existing 436, would not be complete until 2012.

Brownhills market shut last July after previous operators failed to negotiate a new lease in the wake of rogue traders setting up at the site and the Tuesday market was axed at the start of this year. Council chiefs have said they are waiting for Tesco's plans to be approved before they can begin reviving the market.

The planning application on behalf of Tesco states: "The Ravenscourt precinct has suffered from increased vacancies and now presents an unattractive and rundown appearance.

"The application seeks to enhance the retail offer of Brownhills, which will in turn provide an improved main food shopping destination to serve the existing and growing local population."

No-one from Tesco was available to comment on the plans today.