Tesco will create hundreds of jobs in Wakefield

Supermarket Tesco’s claim that it’s new superstore will create hundreds of jobs in Wakefield have come under scrutiny by council bosses.

The chain claims its plans for a new Extra superstore on Ings Road would see up to 450 jobs being created but a report commissioned by Wakefield Council has questioned date used in the planing application saying it is “incorrect”.

The result could see the overall number of full-time jobs created slashed to 61.

However Tesco’s maintained that district councillors had given their backing to the scheme.

Deborah Hayeems, a spokesperson for the chain claimed that Tesco “were delighted” by the backing they had received from the two major political parties in the area and claimed the vast majority of locals backed the project.

She added;

“Our store would see a significant investment in regenerating the Ings Road Retail Park and we hope the added attraction of a Tesco supermarket would help to entice new people to shop in Wakefield and bring benefits to the whole city.”

Criticism also came from highways bosses who described an assessment of the impact on traffic from the new store as “flawed”.

Their report, made public this week, said: “Accordingly refusal of the application is recommended.”

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