Tesco store jobs joy for town

Supermarket giant Tesco is to create hundreds of jobs in Rugeley after confirming its plans to build a 40,000 sq ft store.

The Express & Star can reveal today that bosses at the UK's biggest grocer will submit a planning application in six weeks time to build a long-awaited supermarket on the former Celcon factory site in Leathermill Lane.

The supermarket will create 400 full and part-time jobs. With six retail units next to the store, the final figure could be 500 to 600.

The store will offer a free car park with a canal bridge link into the town centre.

Tesco has previously tried to develop in Rugeley, but the plans were rejected in 2002 by the Government because the store was outside the town boundary. A new area action plan by Cannock Chase Council has now paved the way for the scheme.

Eoin Dardis, Tesco corporate affairs manager, said: "The proposals put the store close to the town centre to ensure that our arrival supports the whole town.

"We think the store can be a real catalyst for regeneration in the area."

Tesco will be showcasing the plans at a public consultation at St Joseph's community centre on Wednesday from 1.30pm until 5.30pm and between 4pm and 8pm on Thursday.

People unable to attend can have their say by emailing community.line@tesco.net or by calling 0844 3350260.