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Tesco WILL keep promise over surgery

Susannah Wright
28/ 2/2008

SUPERMARKET giant Tesco says it will make good on its pledge to build a new doctors’ surgery in Burnage.

An executive for the retailer called Kingsway Medical Practice telling them that the matter was in the hands of their solicitor and that a deal would be hammered out in the next few weeks.

Nick Gellatly, from Tesco, also said that the supermarket’s chief executive, Sir Terry Leahy, had asked him to look into why there had been been a delay in resolving the matter.

Mr Gellatly also reiterated the promise to the Reporter. He said: "The last few details are being seen to by our solicitor and we hope to resolve the issue very quickly.

"We made a commitment to the practice and we will prove that to them."

The conversation with the practice comes just 37 days before the deadline for setting out a legal contract between the two parties and the council.

But staff at the practice say they want written evidence that Tesco will deliver its pledge and not just walk away from the deal and pay a penalty fee.

Mike Smith, manager at the practice which is based on Kingsway, said: "We want a categoric assurance from Tesco that they are going to build us the surgery they promised.

"We need something in writing to say that this is going to happen and that they are definitely not just going to pay a penalty clause and walk away from the deal.

"We are glad that they have phoned us, but that is not the same as written evidence of their intentions."

Tesco was granted permission to build its 24-hour superstore on Lane End Road in Burnage, in January 2005, on the proviso that it build a new surgery on Burnage Lane, on behalf of Kingsway Medical Practice.

As building work started on the new store on April 4, that year, the commencement triggered a three-year timescale for the setting out of a legal contract for the new surgery.

If Tesco does not honour its pledge, it would have to pay a penalty fee to the council of £607,000.