HUHNE EXPRESSES CONCERN ABOUT ASDA

10.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 22nd Jun 2004

Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne this week said that he was concerned that the huge expansion of ASDA in Chandler's Ford could hit shops in the town centre.

"I recognise that ASDA is a an important local store that benefits many residents, but this big rise in floorspace is equivalent to more than thirty town centre shops when there are already a number that are hard to let.

"Given that some expansion at ASDA is likely to go ahead because they won the right to build a mezzanine floor without a planning application, the real issue is how to do as much as possible to preserve the vitality and the attractiveness of the town centre.

"Thank heavens for the cinema, which will be a real boon as it should bring more eating and drinking places to the centre and maybe some shops too. We now need to put our thinking caps on about whether that will be enough" said Mr Huhne.