Tesco in negotiations for empty town centre shops
GoogleEmpty shops "blighting" a town centre could soon be filled after Tesco said it was in talks with possible tenants.
The vacant retail units around Trinity Square in Gateshead town centre are owned by the supermarket chain but some have been standing empty for more than a decade.
Labour MP for Gateshead Central and Whickham Mark Ferguson recently called the units a "blight" on the town and launched a petition demanding Tesco to do more to fill the units.
Tesco said it was committed to Gateshead and was "currently in negotiations with tenants for several of the empty units" but did not explain when it expected the sites to be filled.
The company said it would keep the local community updated as its plans progressed.
Trinity Square opened in the town centre in 2013 and replaced an aging shopping complex of the same name.
It is owned by Tesco, which runs a large supermarket at the site, and also includes a cinema and a number of smaller retail units.
People need 'results'
When he launched his petition, Ferguson also requested a meeting with Tesco's management team to discuss the problem. The meeting took place on Monday.
"Everyone I speak to is angry about the number of empty units in Gateshead town centre, and I made that clear to Tesco this week," he said.
"Tesco confirmed that progress is being made on bringing new tenants into some vacant units."
Ferguson said securing new tenants had "taken too long" and people needed "to see results".
"Gateshead needs more businesses, more footfall and a town centre people can feel proud of," he said.
