THE chairman of Tesco has turned down an offer to visit the site of the firm's proposed superstore at Partick.

David Reid was approached by a leading opponent of the controversial plan at the Taste of Scotland event in George Square at the weekend.

Mr Reid's rejection came midway through a public inquiry into the plan, which has infuriated many in the Partick community.

Gordon Bickerton, a committee member of the Stop Tesco Owning Partick (STOP) group said he took the opportunity when he heard Mr Reid was giving a speech in George Square.

Mr Bickerton said: "I wanted to invite him to see the site personally.

"He could have heard a local resident's concerns directly instead of hearing them through a flunkey.

"I didn't want to cause any embarrassment so I waited until his speech was over then approached him.

"He was very polite but turned me down and said the decisions were not his to make."

Mr Reid, originally from Edinburgh, was appointed Tesco chairman in 2004.

He was unavailable for comment.