'Ray James from the Arndale Shopping Centre said Accrington was struggling to compete with other nearby towns.'
£32m Accrington Tesco plan given go-ahead (From Lancashire Telegraph)
.Michael Whewell of Hyndburn Chamber of Trade said: "Town centres up and down the country are trying to face the challenges Tesco brings with no success."
The chamber is vehemently opposed to the site on the edge of the town centre, fearing shoppers will just park there and then drive home.
Ray James, director of Asset Management – the investment company which owns the Arndale Centre – said he was disappointed with the announcement.
He said: "The local authority has shot the town centre in the foot. Tesco will open in 2009 and we will see shops in Accrington town centre close in another four or five years’ time.
"But no matter what we say, the local authority will do what it wants."
He said it was now unlikely Sainsbury’s would go ahead with a plan for a superstore at the rear of the Arndale Centre, which traders would have preferred.'
All systems go for new Tesco - Accrington Observer
'asset manager of the Arndale Centre, Accrington, Ray James, said he understood why Sainsbury’s may pull out because the £32million, 88,000 sq ft Tesco store, off Eagle Street, would ‘crucify’ the town centre. Jo Try, northern development executive for Sainsbury’s said: “The Accrington Town Centre Area Action Plan calls for the strengthening of the town centre and Sainsbury’s supports this in Accrington.
“By granting permission for such a large Tesco the town suffers a double whammy: Other retailers, including Sainsbury’s, may think twice about investing in the town centre and any plans for a revitalised Arndale Centre may also suffer for the same reason.
“Shoppers lose choice and Accrington misses an opportunity to strengthen its town centre.”
Sainsbury's may pull out of Accrington town centre plan (From Blackburn Citizen)
So far I've steered clear of politics, but since you brought it up, besides the demographics of the area, another reason for companies not seeing Accrington as a good investment, is down to some poor long term planning from H.B.C., which will see Accrington's town centre independent retailers, and smaller multiple chains, slowly disappearing from the area.