Safeway store to close

Owners William Morrisons Supermarkets plc says it made the decision "after careful consideration and much deliberation".

"We have been completing a process of reviewing all our stores with a view to the long-term shape of the business," a company spokesman adds.

The superstore, which will shut its doors on Saturday October 8, has been an integral feature of the Hucknall shopping scene for nearly 20 years, having opened on November 1 1985.

The company has declined to go into more detail about why Safeway is to be axed.

But a key factor could be geographical because Morrisons also has a thriving superstore in Bulwell's Hucknall Lane, only about two miles away.

Opposition from the flourishing Tesco superstore off Station Road, Hucknall must have played its part also.

Inevitably, some observers will point out too that the Tesco store offers free car-parking, whereas Safeway, via the Piggins Croft park, doesn't.

Speculation has been rife about the Safeway store since Tesco opened in May 2003 and especially since Morrisons took over Safeway 18 months ago.

Morrisons says it is aiming, wherever possible, to secure positions for Safeway staff at Hucknall who want to transfer to other stores within the company..

"In the event that this is not possible or where no such wish has been expressed, all employees will be redundant from the business on October 12," says the spokesman.

He ends: "We would like to take this opportunity to thank both our staff and our customers for all their support over the years."

The national officer for USDAW (the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers), Joanne McGuinness, said: "We are working closely with Morrisons' management to make sure the staff affected are re-deployed elsewhere within the company.

"Staff transferring to Morrisons stores will enjoy exactly the same terms and conditions they had at Safeway and USDAW will keep its members fully informed of all developments. We will make sure that if staff need retraining, then that is offered.

"If any of our members are made redundant, we will negotiate the best package possible under their contracts, but we will also make sure the rights of all our members are respected in what will be a worrying time for them."

As to the future of the site, Morrisons insists that there is no-one in the pipeline to move into the large premises.

Speculation has arisen that home and garden chain Wilkinson might be thinking of moving there from its somewhat cramped High Street premises.

A spokesman said: "We would welcome the opportunity of including Hucknall in our ambitious expansion programme. However we cannot comment on any specific site or scheme at this time."

A rumour that retail food giant Asda might be thinking of moving to Hucknall is unfounded, the company has claimed.

Hucknall Chamber Of Trade chairman Alan Bowbanks said he is very sad to hear that Safeway is to close. He thought it important for the town centre as a whole that another firm moves in as soon as possible and that the site does not become derelict.

With regard to the Piggins Croft car park, which is owned by Ashfield District Council and used by Safeway customers, council leader Coun Ken Creed (Lab), of Hucknall, said that in the long run he would like to see it become a long-stay car park.

This would be needed when parking spaces were lost for the building of Hucknall's proposed inner bypass, he added.