Woolies store gets new use
THE former Woolworths store in Uckfield will soon be a buzz of activity again as a national chain has announced it will move into the premises.
WHSmith has confirmed that it will take over the empty business premises, with hopes to be up and running by the autumn.
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The news follows seven months without a retailer at the site, with many residents and fellow retailers questioning when it would be occupied again.
Ian Blackaller, chairman of the Uckfield Chamber of Commerce, said: "Quite simply it's really good news for Uckfield. There have been a number of shops that have closed down due to the recession and the High Street has not looked good.
"The fact they are opening a WHSmith is going to improve the ambience of the whole place."
Spokesman for WHSmith, Sue Barratt confirmed the rumours, saying: "WHSmith is delighted. The new store will offer a range of books, stationery, newspapers and magazines."
It is not good news for all, though. Kevin Fowler, owner of Potters Book Shop on the High Street, raised concerns about the announcement.
He said: "It might very well bring people into the town, but for us it's definitely going to be negative if they are selling books."
Despite his worries, Mr Fowler said it was a "good thing" that the shop would no longer be empty, adding: "It's not nice seeing the empty shops and there were quite a few here and they are gradually filling up."
The launch of an online version of Woolworths at the beginning of July led shoppers in both Uckfield and Crowborough to question the length of time the buildings had been dormant in their shopping centres.
Mr Blackaller said: "There were rumours going round that firms like Iceland were going in there or Next, but nothing happened.
"I am surprised it took so long, but it is good news, it's good for the local public."
The chain describes itself as "one of the UK's leading retailers" with more than 500 High Street stores across the country, and a further 120 stores at airports, train stations and service stations.
Uckfield town councillor Jim Molesworth Edwards said: "I think it's wonderful. I can't see it's going to be of any detriment to the other shops.
"I think it will attract more people into the High Street having WHSmith there."
What do you think? Comment on this story online at www.thisissussex.co.uk
19 Comments
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by brown trousers, brownsville
Saturday, September 26 2009, 5:43PM
“A very interesting proposal. Mmm.”
by sniffadog, muckfield
Monday, September 14 2009, 6:41PM
“Still the BIG story! Yay! Loving this.”
by tanya, uckfield
Friday, September 11 2009, 1:51PM
“still a stupid and wrong idea”
by mudhopper, yuckfield
Thursday, September 10 2009, 6:51PM
“This is a really interesting story.”
by sniffadog, isle of dogs
Saturday, September 05 2009, 12:46AM
“Wow, a story from the beginning of August is still the most commented. I'll add another comment to keep it on the number 1. Perhaps we can go for a Bryan Adams style no.1 record - weeks and weeks and weeks of this irritation that won't go away. Wow.”
by Ken, Crowborough
Tuesday, August 25 2009, 9:13AM
“The only people who decide which shops should open are the potential shopowners themselves so it is no good saying that the public should be consulted before a any change.
WHSmith will have done their homework and will have calculated that they can make an acceptable profit. They probably will as they buy cheap and sell expensive (just compare their prices with Sussex Stationers!)
Uckfield will eventually go the same way as Crowborough where the supermarkets sell virtually everything so there is no need to visit the small shops. Preventing any Tesco expansion would be a big help.
Uckfield is fortunate in that it is further from the main destination shopping centres of Eastbourne and Tunbridge Wells. Crowborough suffers from this as you can be in Tunbridge Wells in 10 minutes on the Eridge bypass so why bother to browse in the small shops that remain, most of which, through no fault of their own, are very unattractive.”
by Steve, UK
Friday, August 21 2009, 11:58AM
“WHSmith should not raise a worry to any shopkeepers - it is overpriced, understocked and generally doesn't have an identity these days. They reckoned Woolies "didn't know what it stood for any more", well that applies to WHS also. Awful shops.”
by tanya, uckfield
Wednesday, August 19 2009, 5:00PM
“bad choice of shops. yes we all want to see the empty shop being used but we would prefer a good shop. we have book shops and places where we can buy papers. this is not fair on other shop owners and it's not what people of uckfield want. bad move. it's gonna mean more shops will be empty if it opens as whs smiths. they say uckfield is a growing town..............well its not because you let them open the same types of shops. we need clothes shops, we need shop where we can buy domestic goods. was the general public consulted on this or did someone working in an office think -ah this is some quick cash, lets take the first offer that comes along. uckfield is losing the new generation and within 20 years it will be a ghost town. wake up and listen to the people who live in the area. young or old, we all have our opinions and i side with the majority-this is a bad idea. i certainly will not be going in that shop and will support the shops that we have already. it's this type of thing that is making me want to move from here.”
by sniffadog, barking
Monday, August 17 2009, 7:31PM
“Hey, perhaps some of you can pop to WH Smiths and purchase a dictionary and grammar text... Would provide some much-needed help with your spelling and composition.”
by Jamesness, Uckfield
Sunday, August 16 2009, 10:14AM
“I think it's great, its basically close to the Woolworths we had before, and frankly, Uckfield has such a bad highstreet that anything that will fill the gapping hole is welcome =].”