Progress on stricken London Road

12:40pm Tuesday 19th February 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

STORE giant Tesco has pledged to repair empty homes which have marred London Road for years and get people living there as soon as possible.

The company, which has just submitted a planning application for a major supermarket, says it renovate six of the homes it owns in May or June, and all should be occupied by tenants by the end of this year.

The future of six other building, all former shops which Tesco proposes to convert to homes, depends on the planning application.

But meanwhile Tesco is working with Oaklands College to provide art on the windows of the properties to make them attractive, rather than boarding them up.

District council leader Robert Donald, who has been pressing the company to improve the appearence of the area, fallen into dereliction in recent years, said: "This is at least some good news for those in housing need in our district.

"We have agreed that we should meet again in May to ensure the refurbishment of these homes is going to plan."

He said Tesco has made a good start on improving the area, but more needed to be done.