The new centre is currently being built by the docklands and will include facilities for the type of merchandise currently distributed from Exhall, Coventry. While workers were informed that relocation would be possible for some of the staff members, many argue that they would not be able to commute that far. Pauline Foulkes, Usdaw union national officer, said: "We understand Tesco's strategic reasons for this decision. Nevertheless, this will still be a devastating blow for our members at the site. "Usdaw will be working with Tesco to minimise any need for compulsory redundancies and to look at options such as redeployment, relocation and retraining," she said. The new Teesport Distribution Centre in Middlesbrough is due to open in the summer and will be Tesco's first purpose built import storage facility which represents a £130 million investment. It will create more than 800 jobs with recruitment through Jobcentre Plus and relocation packages from the Coventry site.