Discount store to create 30 new jobs in Rawtenstall
4:00pm Saturday 18th August 2012 in News
THIRTY new jobs are to be created in Rawtenstall with the opening of a new discount store.
B&M Bargains is to open on the site of the empty Focus DIY shop in Bocholt Way on September 19.
The 27,000 sq ft unit has been let by owners K/S Scandinavian Property Investment to the retail chain on a 15 year lease.
Rawtenstall Chamber of Commerce president David Gould said he was happy to see businesses ‘bucking the trend’ of decline in the retail market.
He said: “The bargain sector is one of the few that is growing at present. These guys seem like they know what they are doing and it’s certainly positive for the premesis and for employment.
“They must be confident to enter a market in which so many pieces of the pie are already taken.”
Council leader Alyson Barnes said it was ‘superb’ to hear of any new jobs created in the Valley.
She said: “It’s much better than a vacant building. I want the Valley to have something for everyone but we have to be careful we don’t have too many shops that offer the same thing.”
Planning permission was granted in February this year to allow the store to expand the amount of food it can sell.
The previous planning arrangements, which dated back to 1985, prevented the Focus store from trading in food or drinks.
A Rossendale Council report said: “The proposal is considered acceptable in principle and, subject to the conditions, will not detract from the vitality and viability of Rawtenstall town centre or its primary shopping area.”
Additional work must also be carried out on the unit’s 60-bay car park, with additional spaces for bicycles and motorbikes.
Carl Allen, operations director at B&M, added: “We have been waiting for an opportunity in Rawtenstall for two years, and are delighted to have secured this site.”
The Liverpool-based firm has previously opened in Focus’s former Burnley branch in Calverdale Road. The Rawtenstall unit has been vacant since it closed in May 2011.
Comments(10)
mavrick
says...
4:42pm Sat 18 Aug 12
spendmymoneywisely
says...
8:21pm Sat 18 Aug 12
Stuart Farquar
says...
9:12pm Sat 18 Aug 12
spendmymoneywisely wrote:No, humanity loves materialism, humanity is manipulated by the 'government' to worship the materialistic god of lovely "new" shiny things and eat nice nutritious junk food 'because TV says how tasty and nutritious it is = massively dummed down society and easy to manipulate sheep..... even your basic veggies are nuked so there is very little nutrition left (if any).. then after a hard day @ work.. YOU shall sit and watch the flashing images from your TV and rejoice as your brain enters an Alpha trans state, ready to absord more government shiite !!! Enjoy.
I suppose I should be pleased that along with Asda, Tesco & Morrison another large company has decided to open up in Rossendale but I have a nasty feeling that the wide variety of cheap goods will actually cause more of our small businesses to close. Interestingly B&M pulled out of Dundee when the Council wouldn't allow them to increase the products on sale so Rossendale Council had better agree to their inevitable next request to expand! . Thirty jobs sounds a lot and I'm willing to bet that it will reduce to twenty or below quite quickly. When you bear in mind the number of jobs lost when Winners left (as a direct result of B&M being granted the food licence) also the jobs lost when Focus went bankrupt it probably works out about the same so we aren't really benefiting apart from the fact that an empty building will once more be occupied. Can anyone put a positive spin on this to cheer me up?
ianloveday
says...
9:22pm Sat 18 Aug 12
her from here
says...
9:31pm Sat 18 Aug 12
It's a good value for money shop,
pdb951
says...
5:31pm Sun 19 Aug 12
2 for 5p
says...
9:19pm Sun 19 Aug 12
mavrick wrote:well they will be paying at least the minimum Creatin
I wonder if they are paying above the national minimum wage?
nolando
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8:24am Tue 21 Aug 12
nolando
says...
8:25am Tue 21 Aug 12
California Blue says...
4:12pm Sat 18 Aug 12
The truth - "The sector that market their brand with the word bargain is experiencing growth"
It has been proved that many of the so called bargains are similar if not lower priced in many other outlets not marketing their brand with the phrase "bargain". People are too easily manipulated.