Angry residents of a charming market town say their home is now a “dump” after the local Wilko shut down two weeks ago.
The closure came after the retailer’s plunge into administration on August 10, which led to the shutting of all 400 of its stores across the country.
The affordable shopping choice gathered lots of loyal customers over the years who were heartbroken by its closure.
Some say Loughborough is turning “unattractive” market town.
Maz Chester, a 68-year-old resident, reminisced about the town’s former charm.
He told LeicestershireLive: “Loughborough used to be a lovely market, the whole town has been spoiled. It used to be a really nice market town but it now largely isn’t. To put it bluntly, it’s a dump.”
Some locals have said it would be “nice” to have another bargain store, such as B&M, that locals can visit without leaving the town.
Debra, 61, from Loughborough also told the publication: “We are really fed up with it. The High Street is losing so much attraction. On one alley there are 10 shops empty. We are very sad about it. B&M would be nice, something along those lines where we can get that sort of thing without going too far.”
Sandra Tyers, another resident, added: “I shop quite a lot at B&M and not everyone can get to the one out of town.
“There is nothing here now really, even the market has got smaller. I think maybe it’s renters and people that aren’t spending as much as before.”
Some residents are unhappy about talk of the vacant Wilko unit being turned into student housing, warning it could further erode the town’s character.
Shopper Michael Cart, 77, fumed: “There’s too many student flats. They are taking the heart out of the town.”
Jonathan Aikman, aged 60, echoed these concerns, adding, “It’ll all be replaced by more student housing. There are a lot of other supermarkets but they are all on the outskirts. We don’t need any more nail bars or hairdressers.”
Loughborough’s experience with Wilko’s closure is not unique, as other communities around the UK face the same challenges.
Farmfoods, a supermarket chain with over 300 stores, recently announced the impending closure of its branch in Tranent, East Lothian, leaving residents there equally concerned about the future of their town.
