Tesco to create jobs for 250 unemployed in Prestatyn and Denbigh

Dec 31 2008 by Justine Bailey, Denbigh Visitor

Tesco

UP to 250 unemployed people in Prestatyn and Denbigh could be offered jobs with a supermarket giant when its two planned stores open over the next couple of years.

Following a request by Vale of Clwyd MP Chris Ruane, Tesco has agreed that its proposed supermarkets for Prestatyn and Denbigh will be made Partnership stores, which will mean that 50% of the jobs created will be offered to those who are unemployed, on incapacity benefit or are loan parents.

Tesco hopes to employ up to 300 people in Prestatyn and 200 in Denbigh, while additional jobs will be created on the retail parks where the stores will be developed.

“I made the request to Tesco in November and asked for both Prestatyn and Denbigh to be considered as Partnership stores and I supplied various employment statistics to back this up,” said Mr Ruane.

“In a time of economic uncertainty it is good news that Tesco will look to employ those who have lost their jobs or want to re-enter the jobs market. Employment on such scale in the centre of the town will help with regeneration initiatives.

“There are 255 people unemployed and 165 lone parents in Prestatyn alone while figures for Denbigh are 135 unemployed and 100 lone parents.

“I would like work to start immediately in training workers so that they will have a good chance of gaining employment. Rhyl College have a highly successful retail sector training unit.

“I will be approaching both Rhyl and Denbigh colleges to see if they can set up training actually in the community, in community centres, schools or church halls so that people do not have to travel for training.”

The news comes in a week when workers in the area are losing their jobs with the closure of high street stores Woolworths and Max Speilman.

The Denbigh Tesco will be built in the centre of a new retail park for the town.

The opening of the Prestatyn store comes at the end of a long dispute between Tesco and Somerfield over land at the bottom of the high street and the subsequent closure of the Somerfield store.

There are mixed feelings about the development of the two stores among traders in both town centres.

Some welcome the supermarket, saying that it will bring people shopping to the towns, while others fear it will take existing business away from small shops.