Publican: Vital town store is not shut down

Saturday 31st October 2009, 9:30AM GMT.

An experienced Oswestry publican today said it was vital to the town that its Threshers off-licence store did not close.

Bill Benyon said the potential closure of the premises would damage the fightback against the the recession.

Mr Benyon, licensee of The Oswestrian, said he was concerned that there was doubt over the future of Threshers in Church Street after its parent company First Quench Retailing went into administration.

Administrators are trying to find a new owner for First Quench’s stores, which as well as Threshers in Oswestry, include The Local stores in Shrewsbury, Madeley in Telford and Whitchurch.

A total of 19 jobs at these stores are at risk unless a buyer is found.

No stores have yet been closed, but 81 redundancies have been made at its Welwyn Garden City head office.

However, administrators KPMG said it is likely some store closures and further redundancies will be made.

Mr Benyon said: “Closing down any shop in the town centre is the last thing that Oswestry needs. Shops were closing when the recession hit in the town and it looks terrible to have closed shops and boarded up windows.

“We don’t want to be going back to that. We want to be recovering.”

Richard Fleming, UK head of restructuring at administrators KPMG, said they would continue to trade while it sought a buyer.

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