A CONSERVATIVE Carlisle city councillor has criticised the Labour leadership of the authority in the wake of the BHS ‘buy out’ deal that paved the way for Primark to come to Cumbria.

James Bainbridge has spoken out after it was confirmed the council stumped up almost £1.4 million as part of a £5m deal to bring the retail giant to the former BHS unit in The Lanes in the city centre.

He is unhappy that the council’s deputy leader Elsie Martlew criticised BHS late last year around the time that the controversial deal was being drawn up.

Yesterday it emerged that the council’s decision, made behind closed doors because of commercials reasons, had been backed unanimously by city councillors of all political persuasions. Mr Bainbridge did not take part in the decision, declaring an interest and leaving the council chamber while the debate took place. He works for a retailer in The Lanes.


James Bainbridge Mr Bainbridge, who represents the Stanwix Rural ward, said: “I am extremely unhappy at the posturing of the city council over this matter.

“The deputy leader berated BHS for secrecy towards their staff when they wavered on the decision to close or not.

“I felt it was unedifying to see the leadership of the council publicly haranguing a business at the same time as sanctioning the agreement to enable them to leave.”

He added: “Although I couldn’t vote on the business transaction at the time, it has weighed heavily on my mind that whilst the staff were upset over BHS’s behaviour, the council leadership in my view treated them worse by presenting themselves as being on their side, whilst at the same time pushing for the deal that would see the shop workers laid off.”

Council leader Colin Glover remains firm that the deal will help Carlisle improve its standing as a retail destination, adding that Primark is one of three national retailers that are known to increase footfall figures.

He said: “When the decision came to full council it won cross-party, unanimous support.

“James Bainbridge declared an interest and left the chamber but no-one else raised a concern in the debate.”

The Lanes is owned by a company called Carlisle Shopping Centre Ltd, in which the city council has a 23.66 per cent stake. The biggest partner is F&C Reit.

Last July BHS staff were told that the store was closing only to be informed in early September it was staying open. The following month its closure was confirmed and deputy council leader Elsie Martlew was critical of how BHS staff were treated. Mr Glover explained: “When the deal was going through BHS was party to the discussions.

“Around that time they announced to their staff that they were consulting on closure.

“Some staff were starting to find other jobs and we were as taken aback as anyone when it was then said that they weren’t closing, and then they were.

“It was then that the deputy leader was raising her concerns publicly about that.”

A third of the city council seats are up for elections in May.