Linwood Shopping Centre – meeting of Linwood Seniors Forum

Wendy Alexander MSP and Jim Sheridan MP met with the Linwood Seniors Forum this morning in the Tweedie Halls. The group of nearly 100 Linwood pensioners were demanding that Tesco make good on their promises now three years old. The was an air of anxiety within the Seniors about whether Tesco would actually go ahead with Linwood or start looking more towards their plans of a ‘Silverburn’ type store at Wallneuk in Paisley. The large disillusioned crowd were keen to hear news of Wendy’s recent stronger moves to spur Tesco into action.

Following her formal correspondence to Tesco this month, Wendy met with Tesco executives in charge of the Linwood development in the Scottish Parliament last Wednesday. They promised to proceed as soon as possible with the court process to disinter and resettle the human remains lying within the site. In an agreed follow up to that meeting Tesco have today reaffirmed in a letter to Wendy Alexander their commitment to the Linwood project as soon as the burial vault is correctly removed from site. See a copy of that letter here.

Jim Sheridan MP also addressed the meeting to assure his continuing support for the Linwood campaign and to lobby at a U.K. level for Tesco to follow through with their hailed social responsibility projects to help regenerate communities such as Linwood.

The Seniors Forum stated their full support for Wendy and Jim to keep pursuing the matter. In particular the pensioners are very keen to see the first step of the demolition of this old derelict shopping centre eyesore, where many said they will not walk through its menacing shadows alone or after dark.

Wendy Alexander MSP said
“I was pleased to address the Linwood Seniors Forum today. Quite rightly, this large group of Linwood pensioners have been frustrated at the length of time that has passed since those much welcomed and exciting Linwood Regeneration promises by Tesco three years ago. Jim and I too have been frustrated at the slow progress so it was good to be able to share some assurances given from Tesco executives within the last week. Linwood is united in wanting Tesco to start on site as soon as practically possible”

Jim Sheridan MP said
“Tesco have made a commitment to the people of Linwood and I would expect them to stick to that commitment. I will be working with my colleague Wendy Alexander to ensure that the Linwood Town Centre is actually delivered for the people of Linwood”