Bad neighbour jibe over eyesore mart site

ACTION should be taken against Tesco over the ramshackle state it has let Thurso’s former auction mart site fall into.

The retail giant has come under sustained attack for its failure to take up the planning consent it has to develop a new supermarket and petrol station on the ground.

Highland councillor Roger Saxon believes it is now time for the authority to use its powers to at least force Tesco to tidy up the site.

Speaking at Tuesday’s meeting of Thurso Community Council, he said: "Any parties with interest in land which is considered to be in a state which is detrimental to the amenity of an area can be served with an order by the council.

"It’s a bad neighbour and we need to start hammering them about it and there’s nothing Tesco would like less than bad publicity."

Mr Saxon said Tesco has demonstrated bad faith towards the council and the town.

He said: "I don’t see any reason why they should not have planning permission taken off them.

"Just sitting on their hands until the planning runs out is not good enough."

Community council chairman Jeffrey MacLean agreed action is needed to rid the town of a notable eyesore.

He said: "It’s a nettle we need to grasp. This has been allowed to go on for far too long and Tesco has more or less closed its ears to everyone and seem to be quite happy just sitting on it.

"The site is a real eyesore and it’s time something was done."

Highland councillor Donnie Mackay said any move towards compulsory purchase can only happen after the company’s planning consent expires in January.

He said: "Tesco has not done anything so far but it will make a move before January – mark my words."

Mr Mackay suggested the community council invite a representative from the company to a meeting in Thurso.

Mr Saxon observed: "If they don’t answer letters or phone calls, they are not going to come to a meeting."

No-one from Tesco was available to respond to the concerns.

At the end of April, a company representative revealed it is considering selling the Ormlie Road site.

It was granted planning permission in August 2009, in preference to a bid from rivals Asda to building a superstore at Pennyland, on the north-west outskirts of the town.