MP for Leicester East Keith Vaz is debating the over-running of roadworks on Belgrave Road by Sainsbury's. The £4 million development is being paid for by the food-store giant who are relocating from Belgrave to a larger location in Rushey Mead. The project is being overseen by Leicester City Council who say the roadworks will continue into March of next year.
Vaz is set to pursue a Private Members Bill that will ensure that developers address the issue of community regeneration before they build the agreed project. Local resident Sujata Barot said she and her neighbours were frustrated with the chaos being caused in their lives and the businesses that the roadworks are obstructing through traffic delays and reduced customers: 'we are not being treated fairly and we have had enough. Enough is enough (…) the council should have made sure that this could not have happened with the roadworks.'
In a public meeting that Vaz held with 70 residents, he explained how Sainsbury's had refused his invitation to participate in the discussion: 'they explained to me at length why they would not be sending anyone. The arrogance of Sainsbury’s has been seen on many occasions(...) A letter will be sent to Sainsbury’s telling them that if they don’t engage with residents and business people about compensation with regard to this issue then a class action law suit may follow (…) The residents and business people will look to sue them.'
