A campaign has been launched to save a York supermarket described as a “much loved essential amenity”.
Sainsbury’s store on Foss Bank is set to close when the lease expires in January. Now York’s Labour Guildhall councillors have stepped in, hoping to reverse the decision.
The store is due to close as the landlord wants to redevelop the site, possibly for student housing.
Guildhall’s councillors are calling on the landlord to think again and save Sainsbury’s. They have launched a petition which has attracted 200 signatures online and on paper in the first weekend.
The petition says: “Despite Sainsbury’s and their landlord reviewing all options, the landlord has made the decision not to renew the lease and is looking to redevelop the site. This will be a huge loss of a community asset to people in the area, and the potential loss of crucial employment in a thriving business.”
Cllr Tony Clarke said: “The news of this store closure has clearly upset a lot of residents.
“People tell us that the shop stocks a good range and the staff are kind and helpful. If it closes some people will only have access to small convenience stores with smaller ranges and higher prices.
“This closure will affect staff as well. Some may lose their jobs and others transferred to different stores with less suitable working arrangements for them.”
Cllr Dave Merrett added: “A large proportion of residents in areas like The Groves don’t have cars, have mobility problems. They rely on Foss Bank Sainsbury’s as their local supermarket for buying their weekly and daily needs.
“Others from further afield find it the most convenient for combining their weekly shop and a visit to the city shops and cafes.”
And Cllr Rachel Melly said: “If you would be affected by the closure of Foss Bank Sainsbury’s then please sign the petition so that collectively we can show the landowner, prospective developer, and the council what a much loved, essential amenity it is.
“As your ward councillors, we will do everything we can to save the Sainsbury’s store but we need your help.”
The landlord is Nitra Investment Holdings Limited, a company registered in the British Virgin Islands.
It bought the Foss Bank site in 2017 for £19.5 million in July 2017.