Aviemore MP vows to keep up pressure for new Tesco store
Badenoch and Strathspey MP Danny Alexander has pledged to keep the pressure on Tesco to ensure plans for a long-delayed bigger store in Aviemore remain on track.
The MP contacted Philip Clarke, chief executive of the retail giant, for an update on progress following what he described as a constructive meeting with the new boss in the summer.
In its response, Tesco reiterated its desire to open the new £15 million-plus store at Myrtlefield late next year or early 2015 if everything goes according to current plans.
Mr Alexander said: "Progress has been slow but Mr Clarke has made it clear that Tesco plans to open the upgraded store at the end of next year or early 2015.
"At this time, Tesco is in discussion with the Cairngorms National Park Authority and has proposed to relocate the damselfly population at the site of the new store safely, in the spring, before the insects begin to emerge from winter hibernation.
"In the meantime I will continue to press Tesco and work with the park authority to deliver the much-needed store in good time."
Around 150 new jobs are expected to be created by the opening of the new supermarket on the site, which partly includes the Aviemore Centre’s Old Santa Claus Land attraction.
One of the major sticking points has been over the pond there, which is home to rare northern damselflies – known to survive at just 30 sites in the Cairngorms.
Tesco wants to use the lochan site for part of the car park, but will have to relocate the insects as part of the planning conditions. It is understood Tesco’s property team met with officials from the national park authority and Scottish Natural Heritage at the end of last month to discuss the details of their proposed solution.
Mr Clarke said: "This month our environmental consultants will be completing a fourth and final round of ecological surveys at the Aviemore site, which will assess damselfly populations.
"Providing the national park authority approves our proposal and the relocation is successful, our plans are to open the store in late 2014 or early 2015."
The proposed 45,000-square-feet supermarket wopuld be three times the size of the existing store in the village centre.
The company admits the current village centre store is inadequate to cope with customer numbers and demand, especially at peak holiday times.
Several opening dates have come and gone since the plan for the new store was first announced by the firm in June, 2008.
