Eight jobs under threat as Dorothy Perkins store at risk of closure
Eight jobs hang in the balance as it emerged the Dorothy Perkins shop in Bear Lanes Shopping Centre, Newtown, is under threat.
The Arcadia Group, which owns Dorothy Perkins, is shutting stores across the UK and Newtown is among those earmarked to close, says Montgomeryshire AM Russell George.
The group also owns Burton menswear in the town’s Bear Lanes Shopping Centre and that is also under threat, it is claimed.
Mr Russell George said following speculation that there has been a dispute between the Arcadia group and the owners of the Bear Lanes Shopping Centre, Threadneedle Pensions Limited, he has requested clarification from both businesses.
On the closure, Mr George said: “The staff have confirmed this news to me. This is very disappointing, as the shop is a key anchor business in the town.
“I’ve spoken to staff at the Arcadia group head office, and also the local staff at the Bear Lanes Centre. I think it’s important to try and allow both parties to provide an update. There are currently five units empty in the Bear Lanes Shopping Centre, and when a number of shops remain empty, it can have a negative knock on effect to other shops in the town.”
Impact
The news is a blow to Newtown just a week after a £1.5 million fund was announced to revitalise the town centres.
County Councillor Joy Jones said the closures could impact on other smaller shops too.
She added: “This is awful news for Newtown as Dorothy Perkins has been part of the town for many years and is a store that many people use.
“With high streets around the county suffer as many big stores close this is not what we want to see for our town.
“It’s vital that we keep as many shops open in Newtown as possible so that the public have something to come into town for and not head further away to other large towns or shop on the internet. As this will not only affect the large shops left in the town but the small independent ones also
“Whatever the reason for the closure it is very sad as the shop has eight staff that will no longer have a job and the shop could end up standing empty for some considerable time in prime position.
“All I can hope is that they will re-look at this before it’s too late.”
