Leigh Park Tesco set to close down with customers left 'upset' after 'sustainability review' by bosses

Tesco Metro on Greywell Road, Leigh Park, will close on June 26 after a ‘difficult’ decision was taken by the company following a ‘long term sustainability’ review.

Colleagues were told the ‘sad’ news yesterday.

But, contrary to rumours that staff will be made redundant, Tesco said it will find employees alternative roles within the company.

A Tesco spokeswoman said: ‘We announced to colleagues that we have taken the difficult decision to close our store. Our priority now is to explain what this announcement means for our colleagues and offer them alternative roles with Tesco.

‘We would like to thank all our customers who have shopped in our store and we will continue to do our best to serve them through our other local stores, including Havant Extra, and our home delivery and Click+Collect services.’

She added: ‘We reviewed the long term sustainability of our Leigh Park Metro and following this review, we made the difficult decision to close the store. We don’t do this lightly.’

Customers of the store were saddened and surprised by the move.

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One of the shop’s regulars, Jo Dodd, said: ‘This shop is the biggest (in the area). Everyone goes in it, we all know the people who work there.

‘They’ve become like friends and we’re on first name terms too. It will be a very sad day indeed.

‘Everyone is so upset over this. Local people care and rely on this shop.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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