Shoppers in Carlton say the impending closure of the McColl's convenience store on the high street will be a 'loss to the community'. The branch in Carlton Hill, near the Carlton Hill Recreation Ground, is one of six of the chain's Nottinghamshire convenience stores which will shut after Morrisons bought out its troubled rival in a £190m rescue deal back in May. It came after McColl's fell into administration.
Nationally 1,300 jobs are at risk after bosses at Morrisons announced the decision to close 132 of the loss-making McColl's stores, including the branch in Carlton Hill which provides post office services. Earnie Raven, who is 81 years old and uses the shop regularly, said the closure of this particular store would represent a “loss to the community".
Mr Raven, who lives in Carlton, added: "I come here to [buy] my lottery tickets, my paper. The staff are very good. But we have everything up here; as long as I have the bookies next door, I’m all right."
READ MORE: Six McColl's stores to close in Nottinghamshire as chain to shut 132 UK shops
Retired Anna Dally, 69, who used to live in Carlton, said: “It’s disappointing for the staff. I was shocked when I first found out but there'll be more of these shops closing because of all the high rent nonsense and cost of living. I come here a lot for any little bits really. I don't tend to do a big shop here but it is handy for me. It used a lot too.”
Retired Sandra Connolloy, who is 77 and from Carlton, said: “We rely on it [the McColl’s store], we need the Post Office. I come here for my magazines and I use the Post Office, the shop is very convenient. It’s not going to be nice [when the shop closes] - this is a miserable time."
Retired Belinda Jordan, 78, lives in Bakersfield but visits Carlton regularly. She said: “It’s a shame, I feel sorry for the staff, hopefully something will be put in place for them. A lot of people use this shop, you see them coming in and out all the time. It’s been here for years too, very sad.”
The supermarket group said 55 of the 132 stores earmarked for closure include Post Office counters and will shut next year, following their busy Christmas period. The overhaul plan will see Morrisons convert McColl’s stores to its own Morrisons Daily brand.
Once the McColl's stores have closed, the nearest Post Office branches for those on Carlton Hill will be in Porchester Road, in Mapperley, and Oakdale Road, in Bakersfield. Many people in the area use the Post Office at the McColl’s store to collect their pension.
Other McColl's stores to close in Nottingham include the branch in Arleston Drive, Wollaton, Hucknall Road, in Sherwood near Nottingham City Hospital, and Highbury Road in Bulwell. Other stores in St Wilfred’s Square, Calverton, and Walesby Drive, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, will also close.
As part of a previous partnership, 286 of the currently trading 1,164 McColl’s stores are already under the Morrisons Daily banner. Morrisons said it now plans to convert the “substantial majority” of stores to Morrisons Dailys following a review, with plans to bring the total under the banner to more than 1,000 within two years.
David Potts, chief executive of Morrisons, said: “Today marks an important moment for the McColl’s business, colleagues and customers as we formally welcome the business and its colleagues into the Morrisons family. We are now able to begin the urgent journey to transform McColl’s into a viable, well-invested and growing operation.”
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