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Tesco ahead in Dean Road bid - COMMENT ON THIS STORY
SUPERMARKET giant Tesco is the frontrunner in the race to take over the council-owned site in Dean Road, the Evening News understands.
Both Tesco, who have submitted a joint proposal with another company, and fierce rival Asda, have bid for the former St Mary's Hospital site and refuse depot.
The bids will be discussed at Monday's full council meeting, however, members of the public and the press will be excluded from attending the discussion on the grounds that private financial and commercial information will be aired.
It is expected that the Tesco bid will be recommended as the most lucrative, although Asda have not given up hope of opening their first store in Scarborough.
Last week, the Leeds-based company, which is a subsidiary of American retailer Wal-Mart, wrote to councillors asking that they support their "desire to develop the site".
It is understood that the bid from Tesco depends on the size of the store they would be allowed to build, after the planning process is completed.
It could be nearly two years before the final decision is made and the sale is finalised.
David Billing, local councillor for the Central ward, said that many of his constituents had expressed frustration at the secretive way in which the council is handling the bidding process.
Recently, traffic surveys have been carried out in Dean Road by the supermarket chains, but the council have refused to reveal the identity of any bidders to local residents, only saying "a number of bids have been received".
Mr Billing said: "A lot of residents feel they are being kept in the dark about what is going to happen to the site.
"They know there have been bids and it's common knowledge that major supermarket chains are interested.
"A lot of people don't know why someone doesn't tell them what's going on."
Last year, Tesco had commissioned development company Caddicks to draw up a plan for a supermarket in Dean Road with a 50,000 sqmetre sales floor.
Despite being the UK's second-largest supermarket chain, the nearest Asda store to Scarborough is in York.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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