Llandudno Homebase to close

DIY superstore chain Homebase has confirmed its Llandudno store - which employs 40 people - will close.

The company announced in August that a period of consultation was starting for employees at the store on Mostyn Champneys retail park.

It followed the closure of the company’s Holyhead shop earlier this year.

Now parent company Home Retail Group has said that following the consultation a decision has been made that the Llandudno store will also close when the current lease expires.

They did not give a date for when the lease will come to an end but said that discussions were already underway with staff to try to relocate some of them to local stores run by sister company Argos.

Llandudno cllr Ronnie Hughes said: “It is not good to lose jobs at any time of the year but it is particularly tough at this time with Christmas coming up.

“I hope that someone can come in and take over the location has soon as possible and I know there is a lot of interest from companies wanting to come to Llandudno.

“We will work with companies that want to come here.

“This is good news but it does not help the staff losing their jobs at this current time and we will do all we can to assist them.”

A spokeswoman said: “Following a consultation with colleagues, Homebase can confirm that its store in Llandudno will close when the store lease expires.

“Discussions are being held with colleagues to find alternative employment in the area with our sister company Argos.”

Aberconwy AM Janet Finch-Saunders said: "I am very disappointed by this news and this comes at a difficult time for those who will see their jobs disappear as a result of this decision.

"Llandudno is a premier retail shopping destination and I am surprised given the more optimistic figures in terms of the economy, that the company is not looking at other ways to sustain their presence here rather than closing down and moving out of town.

"It is certainly hoped that another major retailer will see the benefit of investing in this beautiful seaside town and that those currently employed by Homebase are supported at this particular time by the current management."

In October the owner of the DIY chain Homebase announced it was to close a quarter of its stores over the next three years.

Home Retail Group (HRG) said it planned to shut 25% of its 323 stores by 2018 through scheduled lease expirations and sales.

The chain’s parent Home Retail Group, said about 30 Homebase branches would close in the current financial year with further closures by the end of 2017-18, taking the total to about 80.

At that time they did not name the stores that would be closed.

It said a review of the business had found Homebase was saddled with “inconsistent store operating standards” as well as “a large estate with low sales densities that result in a challenged financial model.”

Source : Owen Hughes
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