CAMPAIGNERS including former Prime Minister Gordon Brown have lost their battle to save a closure-threatened Tesco store that has become the hub of a community whose high street has been decimated.

 

Tesco in Kirkcaldy, Fife, is to shut in April despite pleas from politicians and the community to save the store which incorporates the area Post Office serving more than 4,000 pensioners.

The news comes as Kirkcaldy-raised John Allan, 66, was announced as new Tesco chairman to replace Sir Richard Broadbent as 43 UK stores face closure after a sales slump in the face of competition from discount rivals Aldi and Lidl.

It was unclear yet whether Mr Brown knows Mr Allan personally, although the new Tesco chairman and Mr Brown, 67, who was also raised in Fife's largest town, both also attended Edinburgh University.

Mr Brown is due to discuss a rescue package that has already been presented to Tesco this Monday with its chief executive Dave Lewis but the company confirmed the figures are not viable.

Mr Brown had championed the campaign to keep the store open as it is a key facility for older people in the area.

Students and staff from Fife College joined families and shopworkers at a rally last week.

A spokesman for Tesco said: "In January we announced that our performance as a business has fallen significantly short of where we would want it to be and that to protect the future of the business in the UK we would close 43 unprofitable stores, including our Kirkcaldy store.

"The decision to close the store has been exceptionally difficult to take and we recognise it will affect many hard working colleagues, our customers and the local community.

"We are very grateful to those who have worked extremely hard to produce a package of proposals that could lower costs for our store.

We have analysed the package of proposals carefully.

"With deep regret, even with the proposed reductions in our costs the store would continue to make a significant loss.

"It is with great sadness that we have to move forward with our plans to close the store."

Residents say that the store is a hub for the community and with many other shops already empty, its closure would have a grave impact on the town centre

A spokesman for Mr Brown said he could not be immediately contacted.