Waitrose set to close its Waterlooville store
WAITROSE in Waterlooville is set to close, it has been announced today.
Staff at the town's store in Dukes Walk, off Stakes Hill Road, were dealt the blow in a meeting at the Portsmouth Marriott Hotel this morning, employees said.
It comes as the firm gets set to launch new waitrose.com delivery facilities for customers in Southsea and Havant this month.
Waitrose opened in Waterlooville more than a decade ago and the store also contains a pharmacy and Boots healthcare amenities.
One shopper, Mark Gilbert, branded the news ‘disastrous’ for Waterlooville.
‘There’s nothing in Waterlooville any more – it's gone down the pan – and this will be yet another shop closure to add to the list,' the 58-year-old builder and ex-DJ said.
‘Waitrose has a draw of its own and it’s a store I use to get things you just can’t buy anywhere else, like pickled lemons and different types of corn-fed chicken.
‘This will be a disastrous blow to the whole community and I could see the rest of the shops in that area closing before it's too late.
‘Waterlooville doesn't have the retail clout it used to. It's gone bad.'
It is understood employees from other Waitrose stores were called to work in Waterlooville while staff members attended today's meeting.
Waitrose announced a host of other UK store closures last year as the supermarket industry saw a knock-on from the launch of cut-price stores.
Other stores had been earmarked for closure, but reported lists did not include the branch in Waterlooville.
Waterloo councillor and former Havant mayor, Peter Wade, called the pending closure 'bitterly disappointing’.
‘We have so many shops closing here, it’s a disaster,' said Cllr Wade.
‘Waitrose is my favourite shop and I'm sure it's many other people’s favourite as well.
‘It’s always quite full when I go in there so I am very shocked and sad to hear it's closing.'
There are other Waitrose stores in North Street, in Havant, Marmion Road, in Southsea, Stoke Road, in Gosport and at Locks Heath shopping centre.
It is understood that the store may stay open until June.
Waitrose has been approached for comment.