April 1977 started with the news that the Co-Op had made an 11th hour offer to build a new superstore in Blantyre, a direct rival and competition for Asda’s bid.
Both retail giants aimed to build a new 60,000 square foot store, but there were differences in the rest of the plans for each bid. Around the heart of any decision was what plans each business had for the massive facelift to the centre of the town.
Asda’s £1.5m plans, which we know ultimately won (mostly thanks to a huge favourable petition collected by the Community Council) centred on providing 20 small shop units for other retails in a shopping complex facing out to Glasgow Road, but with a huge carpark behind offering plenty of space for shoppers.
The Co-Op, plans also included a 60,000 square foot new superstore, but also had 2 smaller 5,000 square foot large detached shops, with 12 smaller shops and 2 public houses. The Co-Op in 1977 had been issuing letters to property owners along Glasgow Road informing them there were applying for planning permission to Hamilton District Council. This caught planning off guard, a real bolt from the blue and must have ruffled a few feathers in the Asda camp.
A feasibility study had already been done in 1976 for the redevelopment of Blantyre, named, “The Blantyre Project”, the term where this history archive takes its name from. Planning had been expected to make a decision on Asda’s bid by May 1977, but this curveball meant delays and further reconsiderations.
Mr James Greenock, the Co-Ops Architect said it was simply a matter of their submission being ready and that the 11th hour submissions wasn’t a deliberate tactic to delay Asda coming to Blantyre. A similar situation was happening in Bishopbriggs.
The Co-Op were overly confident. They believed their presence in Blantyre for the previous Century would see residents, traders and authorities take their side, when in fact, most people wanted change. The run down premises along Glasgow Road, the lack of amenity all contributing towards the want for a new , exciting vision for the future.
Asda of course won this battle and their new store in Blantyre is pictured a few years later in 1983, over the decades bringing employment to many hundreds of local people, myself included!
On Social Media, the following comments were received on Facebook:
Carol King It brought jobs but a sad centre – the store is quite run down and so so dull inside – poor lighting etc – needs a big makeover.
Jaezj Jaezj that is a shame, I believe it won awards, originally.
Thomas Barrett The co-op let Blantyre run down for years, that’s probably why Asda won the contract.
James Sime not really, other private businesses and buildings weren’t the co-ops responsibility. Other businesses traded along with co-op. Asda decided to dictate who could open in their shopping centre.
Jim McSorley Interesting story. Had no idea the Co-Op had submitted similar plans. Looks like in the end the people had their say through the Community council whoever they were. I don’t live in Blantyre anymore but sad to say Asda took the soul out of the Main Street. However it did give employment opportunities for the Blantyre folk.
Patrick O’Neill Asda destroyed Blantyre. Those planners destroyed Blantyre. . Planners ??? ££££££.
GL Sampaio Would have been better if the co-op had won.
Jock Torlay Just aswell the coop didnt win, need to take out a loan to shop with them.
Jaezj Jaezj that is true now! Yes, The copie was the place to shop in Blantyre, many messages I was sent to the Coop for! All branches!
Tam Johnston The worst thing to happen in blantyre asda.
Elaine McConnell I would have loved the co-op to win Asda’s a disgrace
Mary Dawson ASDA has been a total disaster for Blantyre. A concrete block and a car park. They destroyed our town.
Joe Sneddon ASDA brought nothing compared to the coop brought to Blantyre , the coop deserved a chance to rebuild in the town. Blantyre should have done as Cambuslang , they left one side of the main street, and pulled down the other side , worked well for them.
James Sime How different things could have been. The other co-op schemes of that time were fairly successful and still exist in either the same form or expanded like Pollok centre to become silverburn etc.
DjRen N Stimpy I am told the Co-op was promised the contract by the council at the planning stages as the Co-op owned the majority of the commercial business in Blantyre. Furthermore a backhander secured the bid for Asda.
Joseph Mitchell 1980 it eventually opened, many a childhood Sunday was spent here! I was saddened when they demolished half of it a few years back.
Bernie Kilkie Would have preferred tesco
Robert Liddell How many of the other shops are still open !
Jansel Bans What happened to the trees? Put them back, might make it look slightly less of a sight.
Ryan Heeps Looks better then than it does now
Christine Crawford them were the days!