Sainsbury's urged to start work soon on Bingley store (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Sainsbury's urged to start work soon on Bingley store

9:00am Saturday 9th February 2013 in News By Julie Tickner, T&A Reporter

An MP is writing to the boss of a supermarket giant demanding answers over plans to build a Sainsbury’s store in Bingley.

Philip Davies worries that any more delays could turn the project into a mirror of the slowly progressing Broadway shopping centre development in Bradford.

The Conservative MP for Shipley was told last year, along with the town’s Chamber of Trade and Commerce, that a decision on when work would start would be made in January.

But approaching the second week of February there is still no news, prompting the MP to put pressure on the supermarket giant. He said: “I will write to Justin King, ask him for an update and let him know how important the project is. It is crucial to the regeneration of the town, increasing footfall and removing an eyesore.”

Sainsbury’s says it is still drawing-up a list of stores to be worked on in the 2013-14 financial year and it cannot yet say if Bingley is on that list.

The company owns the former Bradford & Bingley headquarters (above) in the town centre, which it plans to raze and replace with a new store, creating up to 250 jobs, 83 of those full time.

Mr Davies’ frustrations have been echoed by a resident who has taken to the internet to vent frustrations. The Bingley Life Twitter account said: “Sainsbury’s have persistently refused to give a simple yes or no answer to the question about commencing building on the Bingley site in 2013, despite several requests from myself and others.

“Their tweet of October 11, 2012, which states that they remain interested in opening a Bingley store certainly didn’t give us much confidence that this project will begin in the near future. Also as recently as February 5 they have merely stated that they will be announcing a build programme for 2013-14 shortly. These generic responses are not good enough.”

A Sainsbury’s spokesman said: "Sainsbury's new stores plan for the 2013/14 financial year will be finalised soon, and we will be able to provide more information then. Although we appreciate the delay is frustrating for local people, as a prudent business Sainsbury’s must ensure the new store programme for each year is thoroughly considered.”