Responding to the Facebook campaign “Say ‘NO’ to Tesco buying Spode” the supermarket giant has distanced itself from Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s proposals to redevelop the site.
A Sentinel report (December 23rd, 2011) states that Tesco says it has not had any formal talks with the council or any third party about Spode.
Matt McGhee, a spokesman for Tesco, said: “We are bemused as to why our name has been put to this development.
“We have had no discussions with the owner nor any developer looking to work on the site.
“There have been absolutely no discussions about it.
“Somebody has decided it might be Tesco and it has gone from there.
“We are just as likely to be opening a store anywhere else.”
As yet, the organisers of the campaign “Say ‘NO’ to Tesco buying Spode” have not replied to Mr McGhee. Like the Wedgwood Collection, the Spode site is one of the jewels in Stoke-on-Trent’s crown and the campaign to prevent Tesco buying Spode has attracted widespread support.
In the light of the company’s response, the organisers of the campaign must say why they believed Tesco was interested in the site.
By remaining silent, the organisers lose all credibility and jeopardise the future of a site they have fought so hard to save.
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