Timber firm boss's relief over South Shields supermarket plan

Ashley Timber set up home 27 years ago this month and employs 22 members of staff on a huge 40,000 sq ft site, which also incorporates the Ashley Bathrooms firm in nearby Mount Terrace.

For the last two years, managing director Brian Seales has had stress and worry over about where his large business could be relocated to.

On Friday, he received a call from South Tyneside Council to say phase four of the project ‘is not going ahead’.

Mr Seales said: “It’s a relief to be told by telephone that, in the council’s own words, phase four of the 65 project is not going to go ahead.

“There’s relief that after 27 years of serving the local community from our central town centre site, we no longer had to try to find similar-sized premises within the borough.”

The news also means greater security for staff at Ashley Timber.

Mr Seales added: “There’s relief that from a position of limbo, we can now move forward and develop our businesses and give back a sense of security to all our staff and their families.”