A BID to relocate Rotherham's town centre Tesco store to a new site has been slammed by conservationists.
Under plans drawn up by the supermarket giant and Rotherham Council, the supermarket would move from its present site at Forge Island to Drummond Street.
The plans also include demolishing the existing civic office complex and arts centre in Walke
r Place and rebuilding the Transport Interchange.
At the same time, a new civic and cultural centre would be built on the former Guest and Chrimes site, next to a proposed riverside leisure complex.
But plans to find a new home for Tesco has upset Rotherham District Civic Society, which says the existing Forge Island site 'balances' the town's shopping facilities.
Chairman Stan Crowther said: "The present location of Tesco and the market on opposite sides of the town centre provides a balancing effect. Moving Tesco to the east side of the town would significantly harm the All Saints area."
Tesco would be part of a two-storey development, with parking facilities incorporated. The company has been looking for a new home for some time.
But Mr Crowther said: "We can't see how a two-storey slab block with service yard looking onto Centenary Way will provide a suitable gateway to the town centre."
The Civic Society says the area around Walker Place should be upgraded with the existing civic buildings and arts centre refurbished.
This would also give an opportunity for the controversial Big Screen - now in All Saints Square and labelled an eyesore by many - to be moved near the arts centre.
Mr Crowther added: "The principal buildings in Doncaster Gate and Catherine Street should be refurbished and an alternative use found for Doncaster Gate Hospital, which is soon to be vacated by the Primary Care Trust.
"We see no evidence to justify any increase in convenience shopping. "
But the Society has praised plans for the riverside development - particularly the use of traditional materials.
The proposed developments are part of the £2 billion Rotherham Renaissance programme which will take place over the next 25 years.
The council has already rubber-stamped £115 million of funding for 11 projects in and around the town centre as part of the giant project.
READ MOREMore Rotherham newsMain news indexLettersCheck out the very latest on South Yorkshire's roads - including live traffic cameras on Sheffield's commuter routes - with our Traffic sectionLatest sport.The full article contains 407 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.
