A TOWN in the district has been dealt a further blow with a major retailer due to close its shop later this week.

Shoe Zone is set to shut its shop doors on Well Croft in Shipley for good on Friday, January 13.

Large closing down stickers have been placed in the discount shoe chain shop’s windows for a number of months. But the closure has been confirmed with two handwritten signs which are giving a countdown until it shuts for good to customers this week.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Shoe Zone in Shipley is set to shut its doors Shoe Zone in Shipley is set to shut its doors (Image: Newsquest)

It is a further dent to the retail offering in Shipley after another major name left the town late last year.

Wilko closed its prominent site on Kirkgate last November. It follows news of NatWest shutting its doors for the final time to customers at its Market Street branch in Shipley on February 23, 2023.

Shipley MP Philip Davies says Shoe Zone’s decision to leave the town is very sad and he hopes its staff can find alternative employment and a new tenant will take over the shop’s site.

He added about the importance of the £25 million Government Towns Fund which was awarded to Shipley in 2021.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Shipley MP Philip Davies has spoken about the closure of a town centre shopShipley MP Philip Davies has spoken about the closure of a town centre shop (Image: Other)

The grant aims to regenerate Shipley over the coming years. The cash from the Town Fund will be spent on capital projects, designed to improve connectivity, land use, economic and cultural assets, as well as skills and enterprise infrastructure in the town.

Mr Davies said: “It’s very sad. It is a prime location in Shipley.

“It is very difficult for retail and very difficult for town centres. Some of this is down to the economy and some of it is down to people buying online.

“All this goes to prove how absolutely vital the £25m from the Government Towns Fund is to fund the re-development of Shipley town centre. We will have to make sure that money does regenerate Shipley town centre.

It is always sad when a shop shuts in Shipley

“Hopefully we can find a new tenant for the unit.

“It is a key location in the town centre. I hope that the people who work there (at Shoe Zone) will find alternative employment.”

Footwear retailer Shoe Zone has more than 410 stores in different cities and towns throughout the UK and Ireland and over 2,854 employees. The firm’s other sites in the Bradford district include at Asda on Rooley Lane and the Kirkgate Centre in Bradford.

No representatives from Shoe Zone have responded to the Telegraph & Argus’ request for comment.

 

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