Tesco could provide key to Tenbury recovery (From Ludlow Advertiser)

Tesco could provide key to Tenbury recovery

8:00am Friday 22nd February 2013 in News

A TENBURY councillor is forecasting a bright future for the town.

Tony Penn, pictured, who represents Tenbury on Malvern Hills District Council believes the gloom hanging over the town from a tricky 2012 will lift.

He agrees recent shop closures in the wake of bad weather and the closure of the Teme Bridge has left Tenbury down in the dumps.

But he believes things are set to improve and that the arrival of the Tesco supermarket could be the start of a recovery.

The councillor, who holds the planning portfolio on the Malvern Hills District Council, says things will become clearer when Tesco announces its timetable for building.

“In April we will know something concrete, and a meeting needs to take place to discuss pressing ahead with the work on the public realm,” said Coun Penn.

Controversially Coun Penn found himself in the pro Tesco camp in a bitter dispute that split the town and left him on the opposite side to his fellow councillor Phil Grove.

“I believe that it will bring people into the town and they will explore the other smaller shops,”

added Coun Penn.

“The development will also bring about a bus service to bring people into the town. We now have the refurbished Regal cinema, some great shops and people will see what Tenbury has to offer.

He said with shops closing there is not a ‘do nothing option’ and that the development could be a catalyst for change.