Robert Brown attacks Somerfield closure

12.00.00am GMT Sun 21st Feb 2010

The imminent closure of Burnside's Somerfield store has been slammed by Glasgow MSP Robert Brown. Mr. Brown has called on the prospective purchaser to make an immediate statement on their intentions for the future of the site. He said that, if the intention was, as had been rumoured, to build flats, the whole basis of the purchase by the unnamed purchaser of the store site was unsound.

Robert Brown said:

"The site has long been a retail site and an essential part of the local Burnside retail economy. Frankly it is not good enough for other parties, apparently unnamed, to take precipitate action like this which threatens the viability of a whole residential shopping area.

There are obligations to the local community which are protected by planning law. A change of use to allow flats would require a planning application which would be vigorously opposed by local people and elected Members. I appreciate that South Lanarkshire Council cannot make categorical statements on planning applications that might come in but it should be absolutely clear that a change of use of the site from a retail store is highly unlikely to be granted. As local residents have pointed out, there are existing flats nearby which cannot be sold in the current economic climate so it would seem astonishing if anyone was minded to buy such a site for that purpose.

If, on the other hand, the purchase is by a retail competitor to the Co-op, the whole background under which the Co-op have been apparently gazumped by behind-the-scenes manoeuvres is a most regrettable way to go about things.

People engaged in these transactions should recognise that big community issues and the personal futures of the employees are at stake. Burnside's most significant retail site is not something to play monopoly with.

It is high time that the prospective purchaser made clear what they have in mind, but, on any account, a commercial transaction which, on a couple of weeks' notice, puts people out of jobs and closes a facility which has been here for decades is highly unsatisfactory."

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