COUNCILLOR Jim McElroy has claimed the Outlet could closewithin three years if the Tesco Extra appeal is unsuccessful.
And he has claimed that if Banbridge was to miss out on the superstore the the town centre would be like a throwback to the 1960s.
The DUP Councillor made the statement about the future of the retail village at a Leisure and Development Committee me
eting recently.
"I have been asked not to say who supplied me with the information but I know it to be fact," Mr McElroy told the Leader.
"I know there are many clients at the Outlet who only pay rates and are there rent free.
"If we don't get the Tesco store at Bridgewater Park then these clients will pull out and local people will lose their jobs."
Also speaking in support of Tesco at the meeting was Councillor Patrick McAleenan, who said that the Council had a duty to support the development to secure 500 new jobs for the town.
downturn
The SDLP Councillor told the Leader afterwards, "I would have thought that in the present economic downturn that we would all be supporting such an investment to create jobs for people.
"I understand that the traders are saying that a new Tesco store would be damaging to businesses but I would hope that if they get permission it would be very beneficial to everyone."
Mr McElroy added that if the store did not come then Banbridge District Council would be missing out on £750,000 worth of rates every year.
"If we lose that it Banbridge would be just like the way it was in the 60's," he said.
"The traders go on about how if Tesco comes that the town centre would become a ghost town, but already this year six or seven shops have closed in the town and I know of six or seven more which could close by the end of this year.
"If Tesco had been here I have no doubt that they would have been blamed for it but I have no doubt at all that it is the credit crunch at play here."
