DOZENS of jobs have been created after the penultimate phase of a multi-million-pound retail development was completed.

Developer Dransfield Properties has finished work on the third phase of Tunstall's Jasper Square, which includes a 45,000 sq ft JJB health and fitness centre and a 2,000 sq ft Carphone Warehouse store.

Retailer JJB Sports has already advertised a raft of positions in The Sentinel and Dransfield said up to 500 jobs will have been created on the former Wedgwood Alexandra Pottery site when the development is complete.

Work on the final phase, which includes a base for Stoke-on-Trent Primary Care Trust, is expected to start next spring.

Community leaders say the influx of jobs is welcome amid turbulent retail conditions, but some fear Jasper Square will draw shoppers away from Tunstall's High Street.

Dransfield's retail property director, Andrew Malley, said: "Our development has built on the custom attracted by the new Asda superstore, with the aim of increasing the range of shopping available to local residents by providing a development with good car parking with strong links to Tunstall High Street.

"The combined effect has been to boost pedestrian activity in the town centre and the redevelopment of the Alexandra Pottery gives us an opportunity to make Tunstall town centre even more sustainable."

JJB Sports, which already employs dozens of people at stores in Stafford, Hanley and Crewe is searching for workers to staff the new outlet.

Among the roles on offer are textile supervisor, cleaner, footwear supervisor, head cashier, golf specialist, bike specialist sales assistants, and delivery and cloakroom staff.

A spokesman for JJB Sports said the store opening, which had been expected in nearly November, had been put back and the exact date was not known. It will join the new Carphone Warehouse and Next, Argos and Matalan stores already built on site.

Tunstall councillor Lee Wanger said: "Any new jobs have to be welcomed in the present climate. It is putting Tunstall back on the map as a retail centre."

Tunstall Chamber Of Trade chairman Brendan Fern said he feared Jasper Square could take away customers from the High Street.

The Sentinel reported earlier this month that independent clothing retailer Martins was closing its doors after more than 50 years in Tunstall.

Mr Fern said: "There are two ways of looking at it – it is good news that there will be new jobs created in the town, but some of the new developments are going to affect the old part of the town. It is a shame that these independent stores have to close."

To apply for a job send a CV to Martin Evans, JJB Sports, Unit 6, The Octagon, Etruria Road, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 5RR.

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