A lighting specialist business in Somerset is set to open a new shop in Taunton and close its current store in Minehead as its landlord Co-op considers plans to re-develop the site.
The Lighting Company, which supplies light fittings and fixtures, is set to close its doors at its outlet on The Avenue at the end of January, after more than 30 years of trading in the coastal town.
The business said Co-op is mulling plans to re-develop its neighbouring food store, which also comprises the town's Post Office, into retirement flats, and is also considering converting The Lighting Company’s premises into a smaller convenience store to serve the flats.
The Lighting Company, which employs 20 staff and also has an office at the Vennland Business Park in Minehead, will open around 25 miles south east in Taunton in Easter next year, where it will take over a former Next store on Fore Street.
The company’s directors Greg and Lynne Hickin said they had originally planned the Taunton store to be an expansion of its operations, and that they would be looking for a “suitable location” to re-open in Minehead.
Ms Hickin said the company had “no control” over the closure of its Minehead shop.
A spokesperson for Co-op, confirmed: “Options are being considering for the Minehead site however, proposals have not yet been finalised for the re-development and it remains subject to the appointment of a developer and, planning consent.
"An approach was made to our tenants for a more flexible lease that would have been likely to enable them to continue trading for longer in the current location, but they have ultimately opted to serve notice on us and will vacate the site in May next year (2022).”
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The spokesperson added that Co-op remained committed to "investing in the community and retaining a viable food store to serve Minehead" and that it had provided the Post Office with a 12-month notice period, enabling it to review and consider the provision of post office services.
Ms Hickin said: “Whilst we could have stayed open for a short while longer, it was not commercially viable as this would have meant either delaying Taunton opening or potentially making current staff redundant.
“Greg and I felt we could not let that happen. The staff are incredible and it would have broken our hearts to lose them. Forging ahead, we have re-deployed staff within the office and the Taunton store.”
The Lighting Company said the store manager and two other members of staff from the Minehead shop would move over to the new Taunton store. Two further members of the team will join its office staff in Minehead.
Mr Hickin said that while it was a “shame” the business would be vacating its Minehead shop, it was looking to “recreate the magic on a much larger scale” in Taunton, where he hoped they would continue to be visited by shoppers from Minehead.
“Taunton is a great location for us, aside from it being a lovely large building adjacent to the historic castle bow, the plans for the town becoming a garden town sits perfectly with the way we feel shopping should be," he said.
According to Mr Hickin, the new shop will feature “technical elements”, with customers able to create their own lights.
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The store will also host events and talks for developers, homeowners and interior designers.
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