"What can we do to help?" call from manager of new Penwortham Tesco store set to open in two weeks

Julian Blissett will run the 25,000 sqft store with the help of 80 permanent staff - the vast majority of whom live in Penwortham.

Julian himself lives a 10 minute drive away in Longton, and says he is committed to the local area and working together with smaller, independent local businesses.

He said: "I'm a local guy, my daughters go to school and nursery in Longton, but eventually they'll go to high school in Penwortham, so I'm personally invested here and this store is great for Penwortham in the future.

"We will help drive footfall in the local area, and we won't have a cafe or a pharmacy, so we can work together with local businesses."

He added: "Back in the day, we (Tesco) were seen as a big global retailer, but actually we've got almost global retail operating on a local level.

"I want to be part of the community, work together over anything like noise or litter. We're going to be asking, 'what can we do to help?'

"We want to deal with stuff locally, not send people off to contact head office. I want people to come and see me.

"We have a lot of resources and we can be part of change that improves the area."

Julian, who has previously managed in Tesco convenience stores across Lancashire, and most recently managed a Tesco supermarket in Rawtenstall, is also keen that shoppers are aware the store will have a Community Champion, who will facilitate charity work in the area and food donations to local schemes.

Already the Tesco Bags of Help scheme has donated more than £94,500 in grants to community projects in South Ribble and there have been 44,335 meals provided in the borough under the Community Food Connection (CFC) food surplus scheme.

The opening date for Penwortham is set for January 29, and although dozens of workers are still onsite, with bare pipes still exposed, asphalt to poor and shelves to stock, he is confident the deadline will be hit.

"Yes we will be open on that date, we have to be", said Julian.

"I know it looks like there's lots still to be done, but the change that happens on a daily basis is phenomenal."

Work is still taking place on Liverpool Road outside the entrance to the new shop, and not all work is expected to be completed in time for the shop opening.

Julian said that while highways improvements were being paid for by Tesco as part of the scheme, this was now the responsibility of Lancashire County Council. He urged shoppers and residents to be patient as the changes will "improve the area".

The Penwortham Store will have a four-pump fuel station near its boundary with Liverpool Road which Julian calls "massive" for the local area, a changing places accessible toilet and eight electric vehicle charging points.

It is the first large Tesco site opened in the last six years.

Julian said: "It's a massive investment and it says a lot about the site that they chose Penwortham.

"This store is getting the best of everything, it's going to be awesome when it's open."

The work to construct the store began in June 2020 after years of stalling over the future of the former DWP site.

Having acquired the land from Sainsbury’s, Tesco had pulled out of building the store in 2018, but made a dramatic u-turn last October. Original plans were to open before Christmas, but delays were caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

When finished, the store will be open from 7am to 11pm Monday to Saturday, and 10am to 4pm on Sundays. The petrol station will be open from 6am to 11pm every day and will be Pay at the Pump only.