Patrick McLoughlin

Conservative Party | West Derbyshire

MP asks Tesco to explain plans

West Derbyshire's Member of Parliament, Patrick McLoughlin, is concerned about possible plans to build a Tesco superstore in Belper.

Patrick commented,

‘I held a busy surgery in Belper on Saturday morning, and quite a few of the people who came to see me were worried about these proposals. However, there is a considerable amount of uncertainty about what is being proposed, and exactly where. This adds to people’s alarm about the project.    

‘Councillors are in a difficult position now, because under this Government’s legislation, they are prevented from expressing a personal view on planning applications, and people can interpret their reticence as a lack of interest, which is not the case.

‘I am contacting the Chief Executive of Tesco about the proposals, as I do not believe the continuing uncertainty is good for the town. I feel more openness all round would be far preferable, and I will be expressing this quite strongly to the company.’