SUPERMARKET giant Tesco has been told the controversial Get Carter car park will not be knocked down until firm assurances are given that a new town centre will be built.
Gateshead Council bosses have revealed they have been forced to delay demolition work on the eyesore as they await a promise from Tesco that all the new developments they asked for in exchange for the go-ahead will be delivered.
The retailer has been told it must meet several conditions before the local authority will allow bulldozers to finally tear it down.
Gateshead Council’s chief executive Roger Kelly has told colleagues he was carrying out their orders to make sure the best possible deal is secured before allowing the car park, which is on land leased to the supermarket, to be knocked down.
The eyesore has had to be left to blight the town centre because the council did not want to risk giving Tesco bosses permission to develop the site as it wishes with no assurances the local authority will get what it wants.
Mr Kelly said he expects to reach a final agreement with the supermarket chain this week.
The council boss was responding to a question from Liberal Democrat councillor Jonathan Wallace, who said there were serious concerns over how long the development was taking.
“Having seen the proposals in 2007, we are now heading into 2010 and it still has not come down,” Mr Wallace said.
“A lot of people would really like to know what the problem is behind this.
“My concern is that next year we will still have this car park blocking development and as a result we could miss out on the economic recovery.”
Tesco is still to submit a planning application for the redevelopment of the Trinity Square shopping centre in Gateshead, which should include the flattening of the multi-storey car park.
The upgrade could include leisure and community facilities, student accommodation, a new Tesco store, shops, cafes and restaurants, a hotel and car parking.
Speaking at a meeting of the full council, Mr Kelly said: “The recession has affected some of their (Tesco) thinking and slowed this down.
“We are in the final stages of negotiations – we think we are in the last week of this and once the agreement is signed we would be in a position to speed it up.
“There are three outstanding issues I would hope that before Christmas will be resolved and we will be in a different position.”
The chief executive said he was authorised by councillors to seek the best possible deal and was acting within his remit.
It is believed Mr Kelly has had to use the car park as a bargaining tool because Tesco has presented “unacceptable” draft proposals.
The existing town centre development was approved by Gateshead Council in 1961.
The £200,000 car park was designed by architect Owen Luder, but by the time it was finished the stark concrete architecture was out of fashion.
In 1971 the structure featured in the film Get Carter, which starred Michael Caine.
Jennifer Duncan, Tesco corporate affairs manager, said: “We are making good progress on the Trinity Square development, and hope to announce further details in the New Year.”
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-evening-chronicle/2009/12/14/council-blocks-get-carter-car-park-demolition-72703-25386958/
Gateshead Council bosses have revealed they have been forced to delay demolition work on the eyesore as they await a promise from Tesco that all the new developments they asked for in exchange for the go-ahead will be delivered.
The retailer has been told it must meet several conditions before the local authority will allow bulldozers to finally tear it down.
Gateshead Council’s chief executive Roger Kelly has told colleagues he was carrying out their orders to make sure the best possible deal is secured before allowing the car park, which is on land leased to the supermarket, to be knocked down.
The eyesore has had to be left to blight the town centre because the council did not want to risk giving Tesco bosses permission to develop the site as it wishes with no assurances the local authority will get what it wants.
Mr Kelly said he expects to reach a final agreement with the supermarket chain this week.
The council boss was responding to a question from Liberal Democrat councillor Jonathan Wallace, who said there were serious concerns over how long the development was taking.
“Having seen the proposals in 2007, we are now heading into 2010 and it still has not come down,” Mr Wallace said.
“A lot of people would really like to know what the problem is behind this.
“My concern is that next year we will still have this car park blocking development and as a result we could miss out on the economic recovery.”
Tesco is still to submit a planning application for the redevelopment of the Trinity Square shopping centre in Gateshead, which should include the flattening of the multi-storey car park.
The upgrade could include leisure and community facilities, student accommodation, a new Tesco store, shops, cafes and restaurants, a hotel and car parking.
Speaking at a meeting of the full council, Mr Kelly said: “The recession has affected some of their (Tesco) thinking and slowed this down.
“We are in the final stages of negotiations – we think we are in the last week of this and once the agreement is signed we would be in a position to speed it up.
“There are three outstanding issues I would hope that before Christmas will be resolved and we will be in a different position.”
The chief executive said he was authorised by councillors to seek the best possible deal and was acting within his remit.
It is believed Mr Kelly has had to use the car park as a bargaining tool because Tesco has presented “unacceptable” draft proposals.
The existing town centre development was approved by Gateshead Council in 1961.
The £200,000 car park was designed by architect Owen Luder, but by the time it was finished the stark concrete architecture was out of fashion.
In 1971 the structure featured in the film Get Carter, which starred Michael Caine.
Jennifer Duncan, Tesco corporate affairs manager, said: “We are making good progress on the Trinity Square development, and hope to announce further details in the New Year.”
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-evening-chronicle/2009/12/14/council-blocks-get-carter-car-park-demolition-72703-25386958/
So the fact that the council and Tesco's have been 'partners' for years means nothing nor, clearly, does the fact it's been an eyesore for years nor that there's been talk of getting rid of it for years... Is it Tesco's fault the rest of the place is such a mess? Is it Tesco's fault that tourists visiting the Sage or the Baltic or those staying at the Hilton rarely venture into central Gateshead to spend their money at Wilkinsons or stop for gastropub fayre at The Metropole or get a ringside seat for the impromptu bare knuckle boxing at the Trafalgar?
An alternative and more aesthetically attractive proposal would be to cover it with plants and turn it into a kind of Hanging Gardens of Gateshead...
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