Beleaguered supermarket giant Tesco is looking for tenants to lease its Caerphilly town store when it closes later this year- and will consider offers from competitors.
Caerphilly Observer understands there has already been interest in taking over the building, but details are as yet unknown.
Dave Lewis, Tesco chief executive, said: “It is with great sadness that I have to tell you that our Caerphilly Metro is one of the 43 we plan to close.
“The decision to close the store has been exceptionally difficult to take. I recognise it will affect many hard-working colleagues, our customers and the local community.”
A spokesman for Tesco said: “We will be talking to colleagues individually over the coming weeks and where we can offer them alternative roles with Tesco.”
They did not rule out redundancies.
Caerphilly MP Wayne David: “This is very disappointing. It is bad news for customers and for people who work at the store. It is also bad news for the town centre.
“I only hope that another company will open up on the Cardiff Road site before too long. I will be liaising closely with the local council to do my best to make this happen.”
Caerphilly AM Jeff Cuthbert has been speaking to retail union Usdaw and will talk to Tesco officials today, February 6.
He said: “Following the announced closure of Tesco’s store in Caerphilly town, I’ve been actively seeking a meeting with Tesco representatives and the recognised trade union. Having spoken to both management and the union I’m hopeful a quick meeting can be put in place to discuss this important matter. Naturally my main concern is the welfare of employees that might be affected.”
Usdaw union national officer Pauline Foulkes said: “We will now enter into full and meaningful consultation meetings on this proposal, where we will look closely at the company’s business case for the closures.
“Our priority is to maximise employment within Tesco, seek redeployment opportunities for members, where possible, and to keep job losses to a minimum.”
A Caerphilly County Borough Council spokesperson said: “The council has been working to support the staff and provide details of re-training programmes run by the Welsh Government.
“We are proactively working to support the company as they seek to find a new tenant for the building”.
Sainsbury’s, Asda and Co-operative Food all confirmed to Caerphilly Observer they have no plans for a new store in Caerphilly town.
Perhaps someone will come up with public money and replace the failed skateboard park in the towns Central Market Building. They may find another £650,000 of Welsh Assembly Money to throw down the drain, or, they could turn it into a 21st century Youth club to get the huge number of rudderless youngsters who wonder the town at night off the streets? how about internal Graffiti Walls? theres plenty of large walls inside the store for it, or ofcourse they could leave it empty and unprotected and let the same wondering youths loose on it.
Instead of the council providing the services you suggest the individuals who would be using them should fundraise, find Saturday jobs to contribute, or ask for corporate sponsorship. If your answer to this is the youths will not go to such efforts, then they cannot want the facilities that much and if they were in place would not frequently use them.
You do not understand young people though. Young people do graffitti not because of what it is, but because of where it is. They like the idea of claiming territory which dedicated walls do not offer. It’s an unsolvable problem. Graffiti walls only provide an additional place for graffiti and not an alternative place. Graffiti will not decrease.
As for skateboarding, people don’t want to skateboard. They prefer doing the tricks on the streets rather than a dedicated park. Young people want to talk and do sod all. Give them an outdoor shelter and they will be happy. They don’t want indoor facilities, skateparks, or youth clubs.
As for abusing people, that is bad parenting. There is never an excuse for it.
Dean, do you REALLY think I am serious? God forbid!
On second reading, no. But first time around I did haha.