Tesco-owned empty shops 'are a blight on town'

Empty shop fronts owned by supermarket chain Tesco have become a "blight" on a town centre, according to an MP who has started a petition calling for them to be filled.

Labour MP for Gateshead Central and Whickham Mark Ferguson said shops around Trinity Square in the town centre had been empty for 13 years and believes Tesco is not doing enough to fill them.

He said he would like the units to be used by local businesses, pop-ups or even market stalls.

Tesco said it was "committed to Gateshead" and was currently in negotiations with tenants for several of the empty units.

Trinity Square opened in 2013 to replace an aging shopping complex of the same name.

The centre is owned by Tesco, which runs a large supermarket at the site, and contains a cinema and a number of smaller shops, but many of the units stand empty.

"If a unit's been empty from day one, there's a problem with the way it's been marketed and or there's a problem with the price," Ferguson said.

"My argument would be a unit that's empty is not bringing in any money for Tesco, and it's a blight on our town centre."

The MP said he was aware of community groups who would like to use the units but the rental costs were "very off-putting" and some properties had not been plumbed in.

The units' rents are understood to be comparable to others in the area and many are deliberately unfinished so they can be fully customised by their tenants.

Ferguson claimed he had written to Tesco on 17 and 29 April requesting a meeting to discuss the issue but had not received a reply.

He has now started a petition calling on Tesco to "take immediate action to find uses for their empty units in Gateshead town centre".

A spokesperson for Tesco said: "We are committed to Gateshead and the Trinity Square shopping centre, and we are currently in negotiations with tenants for several of the empty units.

"We are happy to meet with Mr Ferguson to discuss how we can work together to help attract further business into the shopping centre."

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