At the end of May 1978, the enquiry set up to address final objections to the Glasgow Road redevelopment was avoided at the last minute.
In an 11th hour decision, the Co-operative decided not to object to the ASDA store plans being proposed for Blantyre, bringing sighs of relief to Hamilton District Council.
The Co-op had objected to ASDA having a monopoly in Blantyre and was also contesting having to close their premises in Blantyre, by forced compulsory purchase order. Councillor Murray Tremble commented, “This is good news and means the planned redevelopment of Blantyre’s Glasgow Road could schedule as planned in July 1978.”
However, the Co-op was NOT going quietly. It vowed to fight the decision, privately using their own funds and via the Land Act, although Councillors generally could see no merit in the Co-op doing that. Even at the end of May 1978, there were 3 objections on the ASDA site, from the Post Office, Taylor’s and Oreste’s Restaurant, although it was anticipated that discussions were at that time advanced and it was looking likely the objections there would be dropped.
It is thought that the Co-operative’s withdrawal was due to a reaction by the people of Blantyre who saw the Co-op holding up the whole process, some avoiding Co-op stores.
Pictured in 1930 is the Glasgow Road Co-operative Central Premises.
From “Blantyre Explained” by Paul Veverka (c) 2017
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