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| Wilko on St Peter's Avenue - countdown to permanent closure has begun |
HOPES are fading for a reprieve for the popular Cleethorpes branch of household/ garden products store Wilko.
Back in January, the company announced that its St. Peter’s Avenue branch was one of 15 nationwide that would close this year.
Said Jerome Saint-Marc, Wilko's chief executive: "We apologise to customers but will continue to offer them everything they need in nearby stores or via our website.
"We will be doing everything we can to support affected staff."
The decision sparked dismay, prompting Cleethorpes and Immingham MP Martin Vickers to urge a change of heart from the top brass.
As well as writing to the chief executive, he raised the matter in the Commons only to receive a somewhat patronising from minister Jacob Rees-Mogg.
Their exchange went as follows
Vickers: One of the familiar names on high streets up and down the country is Wilko. It is crucial to the vitality of St Peter’s Avenue in Cleethorpes, but unfortunately the company has announced the store’s possible closure which is of obvious concern, particularly to the staff. The Government have done a great deal to support our high streets, but this is clearly another example of the difficulties that companies are facing. Could I urge a debate to explore what can be done to ensure that companies such as Wilko retain their outlet in Cleethorpes?"
Rees Mogg: As always, my hon. Friend is a great champion for his constituency. I can tell him what the Government have been doing. The £4.8 billion levelling-up fund includes help to regenerate town centres and high streets. Considerable measures have been taken to spur innovation and investment across the country and help business to build back better from the pandemic.The support that my hon. Friend gives by encouraging people to use their high street and go to the shops will also be important in maintaining a competitive high street.
In the latest update on the situation, it has emerged that the last day of trading for the Cleethorpes store will be October 1.
Thereafter, the nearest branches will be those on Grimsby's Freeman Street and Top Town, the latter having a notably expansive trading floor and a wider product range.
However, it is understood that few, if any, of the Cleethorpes staff have opted to relocate to Grimsby, with most preferring to leave the company in order to explore other employment opportunities.
The other Wilko stores that have either already closed or are due to close are:
* Shipley
* Stockton
* Bournemouth
* The Fort, Birmingham
* Leicester (Narborough Road)
* Redditch
* Rotherham
* Sutton Coldfield
* Edmonton Green
* Llanelli
* Merthyr Tydfil
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