IT’S up there with the longest-running closing-down periods.

And it looks to continue with BHS reportedly not shutting in Oxford until after Christmas.

It is understood that employees at the Queen Street store were sent a letter in March telling them the shop would close on May 10.

And Lloyds Banking Group applied for planning permission the same month to turn the unit into a Halifax bank.

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But BHS owner Arcadia has not given any updates on the closure since then.

Last night a member of staff, who asked not to be named, said: “All we know is we are definitely closing after Christmas, not before.”

Arcadia said in March that when the store closed staff could transfer to one of its sister chains such as Dorothy Perkins or TopShop.

Lloyds Banking Group – which runs Halifax near the Westgate Centre entrance – said it was told to leave because of the £400m redevelopment of Westgate.

Oxford city centre manager Laurie-Jane Taylor said she had heard nothing from BHS since taking on her role in June.

She added: “It would be extremely good when the unit is vacated to see something of equal size there.”

BHS did not respond to the Oxford Mail’s request for a comment.


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