Unity For Tesco U-Turn Rally

All parties will be at a rally in Kirkcaldy tomorrow calling for rethink from the supermarket giant.

Fife Council is hosting a rally, in conjunction with staff and students from Fife College tomorrow, 14th February, at 10am outside the Town House in Kirkcaldy to support the local community in their bid to keep the local Tesco store open.

Councillors from across all parties are calling on local people to join with them to show the retail giants that their local supermarket is more than just a store.

The move follows an unprecedented turnout to a public meeting on Monday night where local residents and businesses expressed their concern at the potential closure of the supermarket and the impact this could have on the town centre.

Cllr. David Ross, Leader of Fife Council, said: "We understand the difficulties Tesco are facing but we need them to understand that, for Kirkcaldy, Tesco isn’t just another supermarket, it is a town centre hub for many of our most vulnerable citizens.

"The town centre location and proximity to the bus station, along with the café and the Post Office mean it is easily accessible to those reliant on public transport. It also provides a focus and a meeting point for many people.

“We are supporting this gathering to help the local population make their voices heard and to show Tesco the strength of feeling there is in the town. We want them to work with us to try to find a solution which benefits everyone."

It is hoped the rally, which is taking place at 10am, will generate support from individuals, groups and other local businesses. The message will be to ask Tesco to reconsider their decision to pull out of the town.

Cllr. Neil Crooks, Area Committee Chairman, said: "We are all terribly saddened by the news that Tesco intends to close The Postings store. I don’t know if Tesco management fully understand the impact this closure will have on the whole town. That's why we are doing our best to convey the deeply held feelings of the local people. We are doing all we can to encourage them to reconsider.

"This rally will help bring together individuals, local businesses and a number of different community organisations so that we can shout with one voice that we need the store to remain open."

Since the announcement of the closure Cllr Ross has written again to Tesco Chief Executive Dave Lewis, setting out a package of measures which could assist in keeping the store open. He has also requested an urgent face to face meeting in order to discuss the situation.

Meetings have also been held with Threadneedle, the owners of the Postings, to assess the impact of the Tesco decision and to discuss how best to work together to ensure a positive future for this key part of Kirkcaldy town centre.