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Search forPurley Tesco cancels its Christmas lights contribution
Saturday, August 23, 2008, 07:00
The withdrawal of the £3,500 cash injection, which has been ongoing ever since Tesco first announced plans to enlarge their store, spells a massive blow to the residential town's yuletide celebrations.
The extra thousands allowed the Purley Business Association, that pays for the lights, to improve the Christmas lighting scheme.
The amount is small change to the Purley store, which the association claims has an annual turnover of more than £50 million, making it one of the group's most successful stores.
The association's newsletter, the Purley Mail, today quoted an anonymous local trader saying: This is a typical cynical move that shows Tesco's real attitude towards its local community."
David Niebherg, a Tesco spokesman, said: "Our staff and customers, through fundraising and charity collections, give millions of pounds every year towards good causes and charities.
"However, we get so many requests we can't always respond positively to each and every one."
The store was originally going to plough huge amounts of money into rerouting the jumble of roads around Purley Cross as part of its plans to almost double the size of its already massive store.
The plans, in various guises, had been out for consultation for many months and attracted strong criticism when the store announced it was putting its plans on ice in February.
However, many traders and residents welcomed the news, as it has allowed the town to move forward with its own plans for the area.
A masterplan released last month by consultants working for Croydon Council has proposed turning the gyratory back into a crossroads, making Russell Hill Parade two-way and designating Banstead Road as buses only.
Brighton Road would have a paved section on the road between the United Reformed Church and Purley Hospital.
However, it is still unclear how the changes would be paid for as Transport for London has no money for an upgrade.
Before the latest plans were announced, Boris Johnson said there was "little likelihood of substantial changes" unless Tesco stepped in.
LIGHTS OFF: Purley Cross Tesco has withdrawn its contribution to the town's Christmas lights. Pic no: n3741f27 bu Danny Fitzpatrick.
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