Wendy Alexander has hailed Tesco’s bid to acquire Linwood Shopping Centre and lead a regeneration partnership as a victory for “People Power”.

For the last year Wendy has been leading a campaign to “Boot out Balmore”, the current owners, whose tenancy has led to the shopping centre being compared to Beirut and Basra.

Now the facility is in line for full redevelopment with the creation of at least 300 jobs for local people.

Having signed up almost half of Linwood residents to her regeneration campaign, Wendy approached Tesco last autumn, urging Britain’s supermarket leader to get involved in creating a new town centre.

Ms Alexander said: “I began meetings with Tesco last autumn, urging them to buy out current owners Balmore and become directly involved in Linwood’s future. I was convinced it could be a win-win situation for town, with over 300 new jobs for local people.

“The Linwood community deserve a new start for a new era. This is about more than a new supermarket. Linwood also needs a new library, a new Hall, modern small shop units and a new health centre. The discussions have been robust, but our campaigning persistence has paid off.

“Tesco listened to residents’ demands to “boot out Balmore” – after only a handful of shops were left operating.

“I’d like sincerely to thank the thousands of people in Linwood who supported my Shopping Centre petition. Being able to demonstrate the strength of local feeling about recent mismanagement was a vital factor in delivering a regeneration partnership.

“The new town Centre, along with 3 new schools, marks a well deserved new beginning for Linwood”.

“It’s now up to the Council to assess the planning application and ensure that the Linwood Regeneration Partnership gets off the ground successfully. I am encouraged by the way Renfrewshire Council has entered into dialogue with Tesco. Cllr Anne Hall and Provost Burns have long campaigned for such improvements.

Nick Gellatly, Corporate Affairs Manager (Scotland) for Tesco, said: “Wendy Alexander approached Tesco in autumn 2006 about the strength of feeling in Linwood concerning the state of the Shopping Centre and its future.

“Since that time we have had many meetings with Wendy and latterly Renfrewshire Council.

“We welcome this opportunity to become involved in the future of Linwood and look forward to working with members of the local community and Renfrewshire Council to replace the shopping centre with a development of which Linwood can be proud.

“I know Wendy’s priority was a comprehensive regeneration, including the library and Tweedie Hall. I hope that’s what we can help provide in this partnership.”