A town called Tesco

By Nick Owens  15/06/2008

The government is being urged to investigate claims that Tesco is on the verge of owning an entire TOWN.

The supermarket giant has emerged as the sole financier of a scheme to create "eco-town" Hanley Grange, near Cambridge.

Jarrow Investments have always been the public face of the controversial plan to build 11,000 homes. But local Tory MP Andrew Lansley has found that Tesco are funding Jarrow and no other bodies are involved in the bid to get a government green-light for the town, one of 15 proposed around the country.

Shadow health minister Mr Lansley has set up an urgent meeting with Housing Minister Caroline Flint for next month. He said: "Tesco has confirmed they 'have 100 per cent control of Jarrow Investments'.

What we face here is a Tesco Town."

A Tesco spokesman said the firm had never made any secret of their involvement with Jarrow.

Read the article in the Sunday Mirror here .