Local News Stories

Olympian opens new superstore in Woolwich town centre

Greenwich born Olympic weightlifter Zoe Smith was in Woolwich this week to open its new Tesco Extra store along with a crowd of locals. Local MP’s and dignitaries joined Zoe as she cut the ribbon and was presented with a £1,000 cheque for ‘Greenwich Starting Blocks Trust’, a local charity helping local young athletes.

 The 8,000 square metre store, one of the largest in the UK, is part of the ‘Tesco Town’ complex which is also host to over 1,000 homes and apartments and cost £86million.

The area was rejuvenated as part of a government scheme to invest into reducing unemployment and the store has already created 400 jobs for the local area with 100 of those going especially to people who have been unemployed for six months or more.   

Speaking a week ago Councillor Chris Roberts, leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, said: "This new store is a flagship development here in Woolwich and we're delighted that Tesco has invested in our town centre, not least because, through our own job brokerage scheme, we are seeing 260 local people among those starting work here.

"The development also brings with it several hundred homes which London remains critically short of.

"We know Woolwich is an ideal location for big business - times are changing fast here, we're doing all we can to accelerate that growth and we wish Tesco every success with this splendid new store."

The store has received a mixed reception so far, some see it as detrimental in the long term to Woolwich and it was met with much controversy when plans were announced last year. There were local and Labour campaigns against the building plans citing that a new superstore in the heart of town was unnecessary and would completely destroy the high street and local businesses, with Tesco already having over 6,300 UK stores.

Local Woolwich resident, Ayman Elbadawi, 22, is impressed by the store; “Yeah I mean I guess it’s great that it’s right in the middle of town and it’s 24 hour. It’s good that there’s jobs being created too because I know a couple of my mates have been applying there. It is convenient and most people will use it so I can see what local businessman and some people are saying, it most probably will have a negative influence on the high street in the long term but that just seems to be the way every town in this country is going.”

The complex is due to expand further in the New Year with plans for a new Police station along with community facilities and more property already in motion.

Local MP for Greenwich and Woolwich, Nick Raynsford, didn’t seem perturbed by the criticism though as he spoke at the opening ceremony on Tuesday; “The opening of the new Tesco store is an important milestone in the regeneration of Woolwich Town Centre, bringing new business and employment opportunities and providing a firm basis or future economic growth. It rounds off a memorable Olympic year for Woolwich,” he said defiantly.

Woolwich’s Royal Artillery Barracks hosted all shooting events for this years games and it brought a great deal of tourism into the town over the Summer.