Civic leaders and guests had a preview of the county’s newest supermarket which opens today.
The Tesco Churchdown store has been built on the site of the former Hurrans garden centre.
Despite some opposition from neighbouring residents, there were 500 applications for 120 jobs at the new store.
“Generally people welcome it,” said Tewkesbury Borough Councillor Kay Berry.
“I am not for or against Tesco but it’s good to have competition between supermarkets and Tesco brings that. Some people would have preferred a doctors surgery there or for a garden centre to stay but that wasn’t possible.”
After Hurrans went in to administration early in 2009, the site was closed for eight months, and it reopened as Evergreen Nurseries.
But planning permission was awarded by the Borough Council despite more than 200 protesters voicing their concerns over the impact the store could have on the small businesses nearby.
The store has been described by Tesco as ‘entry level’, rather than a Metro or Express and it is just one of dozens of new supermarkets that are springing up across the county.
This morning store manager, Stuart Whelan, and his team will present representatives from local charity GL3 Community Hub with a donation before cutting a ribbon to officially open it at 10am. Complimentary refreshments, including cake and champagne, will be served to customers.
Launch celebrations are set to continue on Sunday when customers are invited to join a free drive-in cinema event.
Madagascar 3, will be shown on a giant screen in the car park from 6.30pm.
“We are delighted we are able to provide GL3 with a donation and intend to continue to work with them and support their projects which directly benefit local people,” said Stuart.