Woolies jobs in Weymouth and Dorchester safe until Christmas . . . (From Thisisdorset)

Woolies jobs in Weymouth and Dorchester safe until Christmas . . .

7:46am Friday 28th November 2008

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STAFF at Weymouth and Dorchester’s Woolworths stores face an uncertain future but their jobs are safe until Christmas.

Woolworths Plc’s retail arm has gone into administration, along with the company’s wholesale division Entertainment UK, casting doubt over the future of more than 800 stores nationwide.

Administrator Deloitte has assured staff on the shop floor that their jobs are safe until Christmas but made no guarantees over their long-term future as they try to find a buyer for the ailing company.

Staff at Weymouth’s Bond Street store said they were unable to comment on the situation, but shoppers were clearly taken aback by the news.

David Ackerley, of Weymouth, said: “It is a big shock. If it closes Weymouth will suffer as there is a lack of shops anyway for the kind of things they have in Woolworths like kids’ toys, household goods and cheap music.

“You have got to feel sorry for the staff that work there.”

Ben Vanstone, also from Weymouth, said: “It has been there for so long and I’m surprised no one is coming in and saving it – but then a shop like Woolworths kind of lacks identity as it doesn’t specialise in anything and is being overtaken by supermarkets.”

Another customer, Ronald Eagles, added: “I think they have been struggling for a long while.

“I don’t go there a lot but it’s a bit of a household name and it’s pretty depressing to see it go.”

Outside the South Street store in Dorchester shoppers at lunchtime yesterday were leaving with bags full of shopping.

Patrick King, of Stratton, said: “I think it is a disaster that the store will close – it is a British icon and it’s yet another death for the high street.

“But saying that, it is a pity that the store wasn’t more user friendly – for instance, you couldn’t order things.”

Richard Bacon, from Bridport, said: “I will be really sad to see it go because there are so many reasonably-priced things and it has been a really useful store all these years.”

Fiona King, of Chickerell, said: “I was shocked to hear the news and I was so surprised because it is always crowded – you would never think a shop that popular would shut down.”

Reorganisation services partner at administrators Deloitte Neville Khan said: “Stores will remain open past Christmas and employees in stores will be paid.

“We are glad arrangements are in place to ensure that all wages will be paid in full this week.”

Fellow partner Dan Butters added: “We will be looking for a suitable buyer.

“In the last 24 hours we have received expressions of interest from a number of parties for both the retail and wholesale business.

“We are working hard to ensure that any sale of business, in whole or part, will preserve jobs.”

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