TADLEY MP Sir George Young has asked Sainsbury's not to shut down the town's main supermarket for six months.

Sir George intervened after being contacted by worried residents who had heard about the planned closure, which was exclusively revealed in The Basingstoke Extra's sister paper The Tadley Gazette last Friday.

However, The Basingstoke Extra has learned that it was not only shoppers who were surprised by Sainsbury's proposals - staff at the store had not been informed of the move either.

The store is set to shut for six months from October as Sainsbury's takes over from Budgens and carries out extensive refurbishment and an extension.

Rod Alexander, spokesman for Budgens, said this week: "Sainsbury's had always indicated that they planned to develop and enlarge the store, but Budgens was not, of course, party to the details of those plans.

"When the deal is finalised, and Sainsbury's formally acquires the store, all the 100-plus staff, apart from the management, will become Sainsbury's employees, and closing the store for a few months will obviously impact on them all."

He added: "In light of last week's announcement we have asked that Sainsbury's talk to our staff as soon as possible to clarify the arrangements."

Yesterday, Sir George said: "I have asked Sainsbury's if the store really has to be closed for six months, and if there is any way of keeping it open.

"I have also asked them to consider providing free transport from the Budgens car park to the nearest Sainsbury's store, so the elderly, and those without access to cars, are not too greatly inconvenienced."

Sainsbury's yesterday said it was considering introducing a dedicated bus service to nearby Sainsbury's stores during the closure.

For the latest on the closure, see The Tadley Gazette this Friday.