Renfrewshire’s Council Leader has called on Co-operative Food to help prevent the loss of a food store in Paisley Town Centre.
Concerns have been raised the Budgens Foodstore in the Piazza is under threat of closure by current owners the Food Retailer Group Ltd, who were sold it by the Co-op only last summer.
At the time Co-op bosses assured employees and customers the deal would maintain the outlet under a new name.
With the prospect of the store now being closed, Renfrewshire Council Leader Mark Macmillan has urged the Co-op to do what it can to help rectify the situation.
He said: “It is incredibly disappointing that just seven months into the new tenure the only food store of this scale in Paisley Town Centre is on the verge of closing.
“If this closure goes ahead then it is crucial another food store reoccupy the unit. Otherwise a large number of Paisley residents will be left without ready access to an important resource.
“This store has a catchment of 75,000 people and its loss would particularly impact those without a private car, many of who would find it hard to reach the out-of-town supermarkets.”
In a letter to the chief executive of Co-operative Food, the council leader indicated local contacts have suggested the store is set to close as a result of a Company Voluntary Agreement between Food Retailer Group Ltd and its creditors.
The Co-op sold the outlet last year as part of a restructuring of its business.
Council Leader Macmillan added: “We would like Co-operative Food to consider that their decision making process in 2016 could now leave many Paisley residents without access to a supermarket.
“This really doesn’t reflect well on the company and I have urged them to assess the options that may be available to resolve this issue.
“A clear example would be for the Co-op to alert their contacts within the retail industry to the impact of this potential loss to the town centre and to help find other parties interested in occupying the premises.”
He continued: “Paisley Town Centre is a great place to do business and its regeneration is a key priority for this council.
“We are developing dramatic initiatives that have the potential to transform Renfrewshire’s economy for the better and we are utterly committed to ensuring our towns have the infrastructure they need to thrive.
“A clear example is the installation of free public access Wi-Fi in our town centres, which will increase the number of visitors and mean more customers for local businesses.
“The relocation of Paisley Central Library to the High Street will have a similar effect – bringing a vacant unit back into popular use and drawing even more people into the town centre.
“These are just two of the steps we are taking to rejuvenate Paisley and our other town centres, which provide jobs and vital services for people throughout Renfrewshire.
“We are determined they will continue to offer everything businesses need and there is no doubt we have ample demand for a food store to succeed in Paisley Town Centre.”