There is considerable frustration in the Highlands at the news that Tesco has cancelled plans to build two new stores, one each in Aviemore and Fort William, along with the withdrawal of other planned developments across the UK.

The plans were unveiled for Aviemore in June 2008. But more than five years after the proposals were first lodged by Tesco for planning, consent was only formally issued by the Cairngorms National Park Authority almost exactly a year ago.

Around 150 new jobs were expected to be created by the £15m development.

The 4,456-square-metre store was to have been three times larger than the existing supermarket in the village centre.

Meanwhile in Fort William some 200jobs were projected to be created by the new store, which was to have been part of a wider £50m development.

There already was growing impatience with Tesco in Lochaber. It had delayed building its new store on the Blar Mor industrial estate near the A830 Mallaig Road despite gaining planning permission as long ago as 2011.

Indeed in November just past the estimable editor of the Lochaber News, Stuart Taylor, wrote

"Fort William's Blar Mor supermarket saga has taken a fresh new twist.

"Retail giant Tesco, which has planning permission for a large superstore and petrol station on the out-of-town site, is now, through its development subsidiary, touting the yet-to-be built outlet to rival operators.

"The proposed store, approved by planners in 2011, was delayed more than a year ago with Tesco saying work would not start until 2015 'at the earliest'. That announcement was greeted with dismay locally and led to accusations the company, the UK's biggest supermarket chain, was 'landbanking' to keep competitors out."

Now both in Aviemore and Fort William there are calls for the troubled supermarket giant to release its land so others can come in, rather than sitting on them to see how fortunes change.

Local Lib Dem MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander, who lives in Aviemore for one said Tesco's promises of another store in the village "now ring hollow in the wake of today's announcement.

"While Tesco's store footprint shrinks, other retailers are looking to expand in the Highlands. I will work closely with them to bring the facilities we need to the Highlands."

Andrew Baxter, Independent councillor for Fort William and Ardnamurhcan, was equally annoyed in respect of Blar Mor. He said that as recently as October Tesco had said it was still completely committed to Fort William. "Now it is not and I can't imagine anything about its business has changed that dramatically in a few short months.

"There is a suspicion that this decision was made some time ago and Tesco has simply sat on a site that it had no intention of using."

Tesco Chief Executive Dave Lewis tried to show he understood the feelings in the Highlands: "I know that this news will be a real disappointment to many people and we're extremely grateful for the support we have received in each of these projects.

"I am very aware of the importance of these sites and I am determined that we will work closely with the Highland Council and Cairngorms National Park to find the right solutions for each community."

But there is considerable local scepticism, as Badenoch and Strathspey councillor Bill Lobban made clear.

"Tesco claim that they wish to work to find the best solution for the community. I have a feeling that Tesco's ideal solution may be somewhat different from ours."

So if the Tesco is genuine, why doesn't it release its sites in Fort William and Aviemore to allow other operators to use them?

After all every little still helps when it comes to public relations, if not retail these days.