Telford Argos closure going ahead

The shutters were going down for the final time at the shop in Telford Shopping Centre's New Street.

It comes after Argos owner Home Retail Group was bought out by J Sainsbury PLC in September last year.

Home Retail Group said the decision has been made by the new owners.

It declined to say how many staff would be affected but said steps would be taken to prevent job losses, with shoppers able to use other stores or shop online.

A spokeswoman for the group said: "I can confirm the store in question will be closing, and colleagues will be transferred to other stores.

There is currently another Argos shop in Telford on Colliers Way at the Bridge Retail Park. There are also stores in Meole Brace Retail Park in Shrewsbury, Oswestry, Whitchurch and Market Drayton.

Telford Shopping Centre is currently undergoing a £200 million transformation.

The scheme has seen former Do It All and Focus store – known as the “Green Shed” between the Southwater development and the new Asda supermarket in the town – torn down. In its place has sprung up a Prezzo and TGI Friday restaurant, with more businesses due. The new development will create 85 jobs and recruitment days to fill the positions were held in March.

Aldi is also set to open in the Northern Quarter development, on the site of the former Asda Supermarket next Christmas.

Aldi has taken a 20-year lease on a 19,500 sq ft anchor store in the new Northern Quarter, which will take up a total of 70,000 sq ft, in units ranging from 7,000 sq ft to 25,000 sq ft. At the moment, there is no indication of how many jobs the store could create.

The site is next to the 800-space Red Oak car park and the redevelopment will include major landscaping changes and a new entrance into the Border Mall. The Northern Quarter is one of three major development schemes currently underway at Telford Shopping Centre.

It also includes the development of a new Fashion Quarter where Next and New Look both committed to large, new stores last week.

The Fashion Quarter will see the redevelopment and extension of New Row and New Street, keeping House of Fraser and existing tenants Zara and River Island.

A new link to Sherwood Street will create new large stores. This project also includes the new bus station, where work is already well underway.

Earlier this week, more than 1,400 Argos employees remained on strike as disputes rage over job security terms. A high court judge rejected two application made by the retailer to stop Unite union members staging a two-week walk-out which started at 6am on May 17 .

The effected sites include Basildon, Bridgewater, Burton-on-Trent, Heywood and Lutterworth.

The Union said Argos workers who prepare deliveries were concerned that a culture of contracting them out could lead to job losses and a deterioration of their contract terms.