Fashion Chain Peacocks Closing Pontypool Shop, Future of Town Centre in Doubt

FASHION chain Peacocks is closing its shop in Pontypool prompting further concern for the future of the town centre. 
Traders have described the shop as crucial to attracting shoppers as one of the only big name retail brands in the town centre. 
Peacocks will close its Crane Street shop on Wednesday, August 19. Its nearest store will then be in the Cwmbran Shopping Centre five miles away. 
A spokeswoman for the Cardiff-based chain said it is supporting staff and while it has no immediate plans to return to the town it wouldn’t rule it out. 
She said: “After more than 20 years in Pontypool, the decision was not taken lightly, and we would like to thank our customers and the local community for their support over the years. 
“We are currently consulting with colleagues regarding the closure and are supporting them through the process. 
“We are not able to comment on the future plans for the building, as this is a matter for the landlord and/or new owner. 
“While we do not have any immediate plans to return to Pontypool, we would not rule out the possibility of Peacocks returning to the area in the future should a suitable opportunity arise.“ 
Closure will leave the Danny Home homeware shop as the largest retailer on Crane Street, which connects the pedestrianised George Street with the Tesco Superstore and a large car park, with Farmfoods having already closed. 
Paul Evans, who runs the Man Cave & Boy Zone stall, in the arcade that connects Pontypool Indoor Market with Crane Street said he is concerned at the potential impact on the town centre. 
He said: “Footfall through Pontypool is dire at the moment and this would affect the number of people coming into Pontypool and people will just bypass the town and they will go to Cwmbran.” 
Fatima Jiménez Toledo, who opened Mexican food stall Xolo in Pontypool Indoor Market in May, said the loss of a big brand could hamper the town’s prospects with empty shops already a common complaint. 
“A big brand closing could have a bad perception,” said Ms Toledo who has lived in Pontypool for a year. 
Other traders said they understood Peacocks is closing the store due to issues related to its lease though the firm hasn’t commented on that. 
In February The South Wales Argus reported the building was due to be sold at auction with the five-year lease held by Peacocks expiring in August this year. 
Torfaen Borough Council said it is supporting the town centre with work to convert a toilet block to a cafe and conversion of a derelict church to an events space, intended to attract some of the 300,000 people that visit Pontypool Park every year into the town centre, due to start later this year. 
A council spokeswoman said: “Store closures are commercial decisions for the businesses involved, however, the council is committed to supporting Pontypool town centre and creating the conditions for businesses to thrive.  
“For example, significant investment is planned for the southern entrance along Hanbury Road later this year, thanks to the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund, and a number of town centre properties have been improved and re-let through the Welsh Government’s Transforming Town grants. 
“Town centres are no longer defined solely by retail and our ambition it is to create towns that are vibrant and combine culture, leisure, food, hospitality and community activity. We want to ensure Pontypool is at the heart of the community for generations to come.”  ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

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By BBC LDRS ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​