THERE is further controversy surrounding the new Tesco in Stretford, as the supermarket giant has applied for permission to build a gym in the upper floor of the building.


The proposal, which was not in the original application, also includes a dentist and a beauty salon.


The Tesco gym would be very close to the recently opened Stretford Sports Village, run by Trafford Community Leisure Trust.


Trafford councillor Anne Duffield has labelled the idea ‘ill-thought’.
 

She said: “Trafford Community Leisure Trust is a registered charity with the very simple mission of getting more people, more active, more often.


“A further gym next door threatens the provision from Stretford Sports Village – formerly the Sports Centre. We don’t want to see Tesco damaging community sports in the way that our town centres have been hit.


“The local Labour councillors are calling for Tesco to rethink and consider other options. Why try to undercut something we already have?

She added: “Give us something needed in the area rather than the current damaging proposal.”
 

A Leisure Trust spokesman said: “Trafford Community Leisure Trust are aware of the planning application by Tesco for the provision of a new gym and we have made a formal response and passed this onto to council planning.”