SHOPPERS have been left fearing a “ghost town” after a major discounter with over 850 stores gears up to close a branch.
Poundland is pulling down the shutters on its site in the Sailmakers Shopping Centre, Ipswich.
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A spokesperson for the retailer confirmed it will close “at the beginning of February” after it was unable to renew the lease.
Shoppers’ next nearest Poundland branch is at the Copdock Mill Interchange, in Ipswich, which opened in September last year.
The news of the Sailmakers Shopping Centre branch closure has been met with devastation from locals.
One said: “The county town is such a dreadful unwelcoming place to venture into and one that’s turned into a complete ghost town with shops closing left right and centre.”
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Another said: “Ok (sic) so that’s annoying. I preferred the other Poundland.. now none?!! Where am I gonna get my cheap sweets crisps and coke now.”
Meanwhile, a third and fourth added: “So sad,” and “Crikey”.
It comes after Poundland closed its store in Colwyn Bay, Wales, on January 5 and a branch in Basingstoke on December 31.
But the closures comes amid major expansion plans for the retailer.
In October last year, Pepco, which owns Poundland, announced it would open 75 stores by Christmas.
The month before, it took on 71 former Wilko sites after its rival collapsed into administration.
In December, Poundland’s boss Austin Cooke said the retailer had experienced “amazing” trade across the acquired former Wilko sites.
He added: “People are really chuffed we are opening up in their towns.
“You can’t deny times are tricky for many and the cost of living situation is having an impact, but it just gives us more and more reason to give outstanding value.”
Why are retailers closing stores?
It’s not just Poundland which has been closing branches across the UK.
Recent figures from the Centre for Retail Research reveal over 10,000 shops and almost 120,000 retail jobs were lost in 2023.
The high street has been hit hard as shoppers increasingly turn to online retail and away from the high street.
High energy and wage costs have forced many businesses to shut up shop too.
In June last year, Boots announced it would massively consolidate its portfolio of stores from 2,200 to 1,900.
The health and beauty retailer said it would only close branches in areas where there was another nearby.
Meanwhile, popular retailers M&Co, Wilko and Paperchase all fell into administration in 2023.
All three have relaunched either online or with new stores since however.
Fashion retailer Next also shuttered 11 branches last year, with a further store in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, closing tomorrow.
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