A greengrocer who found himself caught in the middle of a monopoly trading row with a supermarket giant has lost the shop that he ran for 22 years.

Four weeks ago, the Heart of England Co-op opened a £1.3 million supermarket at the new Village Centre estate at Camp Hill, near Nuneaton.

But an agreement signed before the opening between the Co-op and the developers of the new centre gives the Co-op sole rights to sell fruit and veg, as well as newspapers, alcohol and tobacco.

The deal means that greengrocer Alan Mellor, who is in his 60s, could not move his business into one of the new units at the centre -a move he wanted make because his shop is being compulsorily purchased by the council on March 31 to make way for re-development.

Mellor’s case has been taken up by local councillor Sid Tooth, who has accused the Heart of England Co-op chief executive Ali Kurji of snubbing efforts to sort out the monopoly trading issue.

Councillor Tooth asked for a meeting with Kurji, but was told that because of a “busy diary” no meeting could take place until at least April 3.

“That was no good because Mr Mellor has been told he must vacate his shop by March 31,” said Tooth. “I am disappointed with Mr Kurji’s attitude. I consider this to be a bit of a snub towards a genuine attempt to find a solution... This is contrary to the principles of fair trading.”

Mellor has now accepted undisclosed compensation after being told that there was no possibility of the Co-op changing its mind over the decision.

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