Poundstretcher store staff in Leicester to lose their jobs
Staff at a Poundstretcher store are facing redundancy when it closes to make way for a new council customer service centre.
The discount shop in Granby Street will shut its doors for good on Saturday.
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Leicester City Council is to spend about £800,000 refitting the premises as a customer service centre to use when it quits its crumbling New Walk Centre headquarters at the end of this year.
Poundstretcher had said it was seeking to relocate to alternative premises in the city, but signs on the shop front say the nearest store will now be in Oadby.
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Yesterday, staff told the Mercury that the 10 employees at the shop would be out of work when it stops trading.
One worker, who asked not to be named, said: "We will lose our jobs. We are going to be made redundant.
"They have been looking for another store but have not found one, so there is nothing for us to do.
"I think they are still looking, but it will probably be too late for us even if they find somewhere.
"All of us will lose our jobs and we are not happy about it."
Another staff member, who was in the original team when the store opened about 30 years ago, said: "On the first day I remember putting everything up in the store.
"Now I'm taking things down for the last time. It's very sad. I would have liked to carry on."
A Poundstretcher spokeswoman said the company had plans to open other stores in the city, but was looking for suitable sites.
He said: "Our Granby Street store will close and all staff are going through a consultation process.
"However, we are looking to expand the number of stores in the area and are looking for up to four new sites.
"Finding suitable sites can be a long process, but we hope to have some new stores open by the end of the year."
Customer Colin Watson, 53, said: "I feel gutted for the staff. They are lovely people and do not deserve to lose their jobs. Granby Street used to be one of the busiest streets – now another shop is going and more people will be without a job."
The council said its plans to occupy the store would help other shops and businesses in the area.
It said 13,000 visits a month were made to the existing New Walk Centre by people looking to pay bills or make inquiries.
It expected those people to use the shops in Granby Street.
City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: "It is a prominent and accessible high street location and, by moving there, we will be able to get many more people into that area, which will help businesses there."
11 Comments
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by City_C10
Thursday, February 14 2013, 10:19AM
“@ Keiran – It does seem that way does not it, I agree.”
by DonHenson
Thursday, February 14 2013, 6:55AM
“Yes, let's all blame the council. If it happens in Leicester it has to be the council's fault.
Sometimes I wonder what planet people are on, I really do.
There are plenty of empty shop premises for Poundland. They can't be looking too hard, can they?”
by reubedube
Wednesday, February 13 2013, 10:43PM
“How does one recognise a person as being of 'the typical council staff' ? If the implication is that no council staff know what hard work is, what utter nonsense.
I suppose it is fair game to criticise an employer if one thinks there is just cause to do so, but to suggest that none of their employees knows what hard work is really is going a bit too far I think.”
by Rachel_Leics
Wednesday, February 13 2013, 10:18PM
“Save poundstretcher!!!! x”
by Neil0123
Wednesday, February 13 2013, 7:52PM
“Pound Stretcher is a popular and successful business. This is why it was targeted by a council with the sole policy of destroying any profitable enterprise in town.
Pound Stretcher has survived all the cosmetic roadworks that have blighted the area so the only possible way to stop them was to force close them.
I feel really sorry for all the hard working staff who have had their livelihood destroyed by the Luddites in New walk centre.
If they need a largish customer services centre then what is wrong with the old Haymarket Theatre? It is central to town and (I think) still owned by the council.”
by LeeLeicester
Wednesday, February 13 2013, 5:26PM
“the LM ran a story about the old post office the other day.
http://tinyurl.com/cbzdtdr
would this have been an alternative to closing poundstretcher as well as the snooker club, as this is an already empty building?”
by Stoned
Wednesday, February 13 2013, 5:22PM
“Didn't realise that the store had been there for so long, when I was a lad the building was occupied by C & A. I wish the staff luck in finding other employment.”
by keiran
Wednesday, February 13 2013, 11:24AM
“@city....stop trying to use common sense.This is Leicester after all !”
by City_C10
Wednesday, February 13 2013, 10:45AM
“I remember this store, it was really good and cheap (hence the name). I am really sad to see it go and for me this is a big mistake and people and staff should fight to keep it open. I wish all the staff the best.
I am disappointed in the Leicester City Council as there are many empty units they could have moved their customer service centre to. The cost of £800,000 to fit the new customer service centre and the loss of jobs is not making financial sense then to relocate Poundstretcher... Why not keep the shop there and move to another building that will save £800,000 and jobs!”
by NickDiPerna1
Wednesday, February 13 2013, 10:40AM
“I bet those 10 employees know more about hard work than the typical council staff who are going to replace them.”