High street quids in with new shop (From Oxford Mail)

High street quids in with new shop

7:00am Monday 18th March 2013 in News

DISCOUNT store Poundland has confirmed it will be moving to Bicester’s high street.

The shop will open in the former post office and newsagent Martin McColl, in Sheep Street, which is being refurbished.

The post office and newsagent relocated in January to the smaller former Cherry’s furniture unit, which closed in December 2011. The Cherry family decided to retire and closed their furniture shop after almost 60 years’ trading in Sheep Street.

Poundland says it will create 22 jobs when it opens its new store on Thursday. The firm was unable to say if the jobs would be full or part time.

Poundland’s trading director Richard Lancaster, said: “We are delighted to bring our unique proposition to Bicester.

“The £1 price hasn’t changed since we opened our first store 22 years ago. Our customers love us and we’re sure the Bicester shoppers will too.”

Ben Jackson, president of Bicester and District Chamber of Commerce, said: “It is never good to have empty units in a shopping centre and Bicester generally has faired better than others in this regard.

“A vibrant town centre creates jobs, putting money into the local economy and the more utilised units there are, the greater the benefit for all.”

A planning application has gone to Cherwell District Council to install new signs.