Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said talks to save a Tesco store described as a hub of a community are to continue after a meeting with the supermarket chain's chief executive.
The MP met with Dave Lewis of Tesco in London in a bid to save the shop in his constituency in Kirkcaldy, Fife, where a Post Office is also sited, with a £1 million rescue proposal.
The plan to close the store with the loss of 189 jobs as part of a wider exercise to shut 43 shops in total in the UK has met with with huge local opposition and Mr Brown has joined campaigners as a mediator in the push to save the shop.
The Labour MP and former Chancellor said the details of the meeting will now be part of a continuing discussion with Tesco.
He said: "Tesco has agreed that the main Kirkcaldy Post Office will be offered the chance to remain on their Tesco site in the town centre for the time being while the council's other proposals for Tesco to stay are examined.
"We have shown Tesco how they could save nearly £1 million.
"We have shown them that far from Kirkcaldy being a declining market, it is growing and we have given Tesco the evidence that the town with just under 60,000 people - 59,796 in 2013 - will continue to grow.
"The market they are proposing to abandon is about to see 5,000 more homes built and there will be a rise from under 30,000 households - 29,426 in 2013 to more than 33,000 after an addition of 3,850 new households.
"There will be six households for every five today."
He continued: "And we have shown Tesco that in Kirkcaldy centre - where 5,000 people live - 37 per cent of households within the Central Multi-Member Ward do not have access to a car or van; a higher percentage than the Fife and Scottish averages of 25.6 per cent and 30.5 per cent.
"It will be difficult for current customers to access the nearest Tesco store to Kirkcaldy, which is a Tesco Metro at Cardenden six miles away.
"Tesco have agreed that they will allow the Post Office to continue to use the site they lease until December this year.
"The nearest main Post Office is 7.5 miles away in Glenrothes.
"There is a concern Kirkcaldy would be reduced to sub Post Offices and no main Post Office but now Tesco has agreed to help the Post Office who will look for new franchise holder.
"I am pleased that there will continue to be a main Post Office in the town centre and that Tesco will allow it to continue for the time being on their site.
Fife council leader David Ross said: "We are ready to enter into any discussions that could retain Tesco and help keep the town centre vibrant."
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