Peeblesshire News | News | News store boost for town

Thursday, 4th December, 2008

Published: Monday, 9th October, 2006 14:10

News store boost for town

By Hannah Jefferson

SHOPPERS in Innerleithen will no longer need to take their trolleys elsewhere as the Co-op has announced its plans to build a new superstore.

And the development, which will be twice the size of the current Co-op shop, should also bring more jobs opportunities to the town.

The company’s general services manager, Gordon Wilks, told the Peeblesshire News: “The Co-op has traded in Innerleithen for over 150 years and our current Chapel Street shop has been very successful.

“It is the main food outlet in the town and has difficulty coping with the level of trade which has prompted us to look for other premises.”

The Co-op hope to build its new store on the current site of Scott Motors as well as part of the Glendinning Bros. premises.

Customers will benefit from increased parking spaces as well as improved disabled access.

And the development should mean less travelling to supermarkets in Peebles and Galashiels for locals in the town.

Chairman of the Innerleithen Community Council, Ross McGinn, said: “The Co-op is a long-standing business in Innerleithen and it would certainly be used more if there were better parking facilities.

“It seems that there would be lots of positives.

“I haven’t seen the plans yet, but as far as I can tell there don’t seem to be too many problems with the location.”

Mr Wilks added: “Our proposals are compatible with the Local Plan and we hope that the development will be beneficial for the town and will strengthen the local economy.”

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