Tesco has been told to stop “dithering” over the redevelopment of a neglected Renfrewshire town centre, following allegations that it had links to a firm accused of letting the area deteriorate.

The retailer is facing calls from Wendy Alexander, the local Labour MSP, and Derek Mackay, the SNP leader of Renfrewshire Council, to get on with the job of redeveloping Linwood, a promise the company first made in 2007.

It follows reports that Tesco was involved with a company accused of running the town down prior to the sale of the land to Tesco.

The claims are that Tesco’s involvement with developer Balmore Properties pre-dates the sale of Linwood town centre to Tesco, and that Balmore let the area deteriorate to give Tesco a stronger case for taking on the site.

The nature of Tesco’s relationship with Balmore has not been fully explained by the supermarket chain, but it is alleged they were connected to Balmore in 2001 when the developer first bought the land, long before Tesco announced its intentions for the site in 2007.

Now politicians have called on the company to speed up the creation of a promised new store and regeneration of the surrounding town centre, including a new health centre, community hall and library, after years of delay.

Wendy Alexander, Paisley North MSP, said: “Tesco have dithered and delayed far too long. The people of Linwood feel mightily let down. In early 2007 there was no talk of a three to four year delay before building work got underway.

“The full scheme must be delivered as soon as possible. It is the future of a whole town centre that is at stake not just a store.

Derek Mackay, the leader of Renfrewshire Council, said: “Whatever happened in the past with business transactions is in the past. Tesco procrastinate, it seems to be Tesco’s way.

“They can make amends for whatever happened in the past by fixing Linwood Tesco now. Make it happen, redevelop the town.”

A Tesco spokesman said: “Our plans will regenerate Linwood bringing not only a Tesco store but many jobs for the long term unemployed and a new health centre and library. Linwood town centre has been in decline for years, before our involvement, or the involvement of Balmore, and it is our plans that will reverse this and bring investment back to the area.”