MARK Willis, the Mayor of Tenbury is insisting upon a meeting with Tesco to discuss the supermarket’s timetable for construction in the town.

He says that the town council needs to be informed, along with Worcestershire County Council and Malvern Hills District Council.

“It is the town council that is in the front line, as far as people in the local area are concerned, and we must know what is going on,” said Mark Willis.

Six years after the scheme was first suggested and following a prolonged planning process followed by delays Tesco has said that it intends to go-ahead with a supermarket on the former Cattle Market site.

The company has already started work on the site and has announced that it hopes that the new store will open in February or March next year.

Traders in Tenbury are concerned that construction work and changes to the roads by cause disruption during the vital Christmas period.

Mark Willis said that although the contractor on the site had been helpful with information there is a need for a proper meeting with Tesco.

“We are given to understand that access to all of the existing businesses and shops in Tenbury will not be affected during the run-up to Christmas but we need to know exactly what the timetable is going to be,” he said.

"There has to be a meeting and any impression some people may have that this has taken place is wrong."

The Tesco store, which includes parking, will result in a grant of nearly £100,000 to the Tenbury Transport Trust to improve local bus services.

As part of the planning agreement Tesco will also make a contribution towards the second phase of improvements to the town centre including pavements, traffic calming and the road.

However, it is not clear if this work will be undertaken by Worcestershire County Council or the contractor working for Tesco.

As part of the project, a new riverside walk alongside the River Teme will also be created.