Jobs face axe as Welshpool Spar store to close

The Spar in Church Street, will become the second town centre supermarket to close since Tesco opened on the outskirts of the town in 2011.

Blakemore Retail, the company which owns the store on Church Street, yesterday released a statement to its suppliers confirming the closure.

In a letter Julie Jordan, a senior accountants clerk from Blakemore Retail, said: "From August 4 the following store will no longer be trading as Blakemore Retail Spar. It will cease trading at the close of business on August 3."

Although staff would not speak about the closure, it is believed they were told of the closure this week and have been told to find new jobs.

Welshpool Town Councillor Estelle Bleivas, said: "I'm very upset to hear this news. It means that the elderly and disabled who rely on a shop on that corner are going to have to go even further for a shop, especially to pay their PayPoint bills.

"The Spar has been a part of the town for a long time - but how can they compete with the likes of Tesco and the other big stores?

"I know staff have been offered jobs in other stores but some of them are a distance to travel and for those who can't drive they can't do it.

"This will mean we could have four, five or six people all fighting for jobs in Welshpool, but where are they?"

The Welshpool mayor Cllr Malcolm Douglass said: "This is a devastating blow for the town."

Welshpool Town councillor and Powys County Councillor Phil Pritchard said the news was awful for the town.

He said: "This is absolutely devastating. The Spar has been a valuable retailer in this town for many years."