B&Q to close Preston branch

Home improvement chain B&Q has announced it is to close one of its oldest stores in Lancashire in the New Year.

The company says the outlet, off North Road in Preston, will begin winding down its operation on Monday with the start of a giant closing down sale.

The news comes as part of a major restructuring of the B&Q business which will see up to 60 stores close in the next two years in the UK and Ireland.

A statement from the company late on Friday said some of the Preston staff would be moving across to the B&Q superstore at Bamber Bridge.

But there was no mention of numbers, or how many would be losing their jobs.

Bamber Bridge store manager Simon Gaier said: “We look forward to wdlcoming our new customers and want to reassure them that we will endeavour to continue to offer the excellent service which they received in Preston.

“We have a great team at Bamber Bridge who do a fantastic job. And some of the team from Preston will be joining us here.”

B&Q is part of the Kingfisher Group of companies which also includes Screwfix. It has more than 300 stores, employs 30,000 staff and is the largest home improvement company in the UK and third largest in the world.

Source : Lancashire Evening Post
www.lep.co.uk/news/business/business/diy-giant-to-close-lancashire-store-1-7570767