A MAJOR retail business is remaining tight-lipped over reports it is set to take up a vacant Oswestry building.

Social media has been awash with rumours of who would be taking over the empty former Morrisons supermarket in Beatrice Street after Shropshire Council announced a parking consultation for the site.

The consultation, which ended on May 24, was asking for public views on whether parking charges should be dropped for the car park, which was used largely for Covid-19 testing for much of the last few years.

Shropshire Council said this would allow leasing of the land as well as the building which has stood empty since the supermarket moved to its Shrewsbury Road location in 2019.

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In recent days, it has been suggested that multi-product retailer The Range could be the latest big name to move to the town following McDonald’s and Costa Coffee’s decision to set up close to the new Morrisons’s site.

However, when approached by the Advertizer a spokesman for the chain batted off questions over the rumoured negotiations with Shropshire Council to move into the space.

He said: “The Range cannot confirm any plans to open a store in Oswestry at this time.”

Last month, Shropshire Council was also tight-lipped over who would be taking over the site.

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A spokesman said: “Shropshire Council is proposing to lease the car park and adjoining building to a commercial business.

“For commercial reasons we’re unable to say any more at this stage, and until the consultation has been completed.”

Oswestry Town Council, at its May meeting, backed any plans for the premises to be filled but councillors added that they hoped parking for nearby residents overnight would be maintained to help ease congestion.