MOVE in - or hand over the keys to someone who will.

That’s the message from civic chiefs in Southampton to Morrisons amid fears the supermarket giant could scrap plans for a second store in the city within a few months.

Last year the chain confirmed it was pulling out of building a new store in East Street, and work is yet to begin to convert its empty unit in Centenary Quay, Woolston.

The developer behind the £500million Centenary Quay complex, Crest Nicholson, says Morrisons is still on track to open it, “to their knowledge”.

The Morrisons store would be created at the heart of the complex, which currently boasts hundreds of flats and apartments and will feature 1,600 homes and a range of other businesses when it is complete.

In 2013 developer Crest Nicholson announced that Morrisons would be part of Centenary Quay, with the new store creating 200 jobs.

However last year uncertainty began to develop over its plans for the Centenary Quay and East Street supermarkets amid worsening trade figures.

Last June the firm announced that it was pulling out of the East Street plans after the landowner went bust.

As revealed in the Daily Echo this week, Aldi is set to replace Morrisons at the East Street site and developer Kier has also filed plans to convert the Capital House tower block and create a row of town houses for students.

In the wake of that news Morrisons said it would continue with plans for the new store in Woolston.

But it then it missed its previous target opening date in November and the 5,500sq m unit is still empty, just weeks before April, when city council chiefs believed it would open.

Council planners are also due to make a decision next month on plans for a Lidl supermarket on the site of the former Co-op in Obelisk Road.

Now leading politicians are calling on Morrisons to get moving - or move out.

Council housing chief Warwick Payne, who is also a Woolston councillor, said: “The site is ready for them to move in, but they are not moving in.

“Woolston needs a supermarket and Morrisons are missing a trick by not opening in Centenary Quay because they would have a captive market as residents need somewhere to shop.

“If Morrisons are cancelling their sites elsewhere in Britain, my message to them would be to look at Centenary Quay as one of the better best that’s still worth saving.

“And if they are not going to come to Woolston, perhaps hand over the keys to someone who will.”

Southampton Itchen MP Royston Smith said: “I have been assured by the city council that Morrisons will be coming to Centenary Quay, but I see no evidence of it.

“I am very disappointed with the prevarication from Morrisons and this is not the first time they have changed their plans.

“If Morrisons are reconsidering they should make their position clear. I am sure there are many other operators who would be willing to take over the site and create some much needed jobs for local people.”

Residents at Centenary Quay told the Daily Echo they were “in the dark” about what was happening about the Morrisons store, with Emily Adam saying: “The development itself has gone up so quickly, so you would have assumed it would be the next thing to happen. I would quite like to know what’s happening.”

Another woman, who asked not to be named, said: “At the moment we haven’t got a supermarket to use, so it would be welcomed. But Lidl might be opening, so is that why it’s stalled?”

A spokesman for Crest Nicholson said: “To our knowledge, Morrisons is still on track to open the brand new supermarket at Centenary Quay in Woolston and we have not been informed otherwise.

“The new supermarket will form part of the retail and leisure facilities planned for residents and the wider community at our new development.”

A spokesman for Morrisons said there was “no update” on the store at the moment.