What now for new supermarket?

It has been four long years since the Sainsburys and Tesco road-shows rolled into Rye dazzling us with glossy images and artist’s visions of a new supermarket.
By The Newsroom
Published 1st Aug 2014, 05:27 BST
Comment from the Rye ObserverComment from the Rye Observer
Comment from the Rye Observer

Yet here we are half way through 2014 and not one brick has been laid and we cannot see any prospect of that happening any time soon.

We admit the situation is complex, and to many ludicrous with one supermarket giant gaining planning consent for land it does not even own, but surely with a will, and the money at their disposal, a solution should have been brokered long before now.

Our MP attempted to intervene, but to no avail.

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Now with big supermarkets losing trade to cheaper outlets like Aldi and Lidl, and claiming online shopping has reduced demand for new stores, the future is not looking bright for those in Rye who feel the town needs more choice and a new supermarket.

We should not forget the role East Sussex County played in selling the land. It is a recorded fact that Tesco were offered the Lower School site first before the county council made an eleventh hour swerve in favour of Sainsburys.

Understandably this decision inflamed Tesco.

If ESCC had stuck to its original decision we would probably have a supermarket by now.

Related topics:TescoRyeAldiLidl