RESIDENTS flocked to our social media pages to have their say on the closure of the Bromsgrove town centre Iceland store.
We reported on Saturday about the plans to close the supermarket on February 25. Customers have been told to use the Iceland Food Warehouse on the Birmingham Retail Park.
On our Facebook page, some people said they already used the Food Warehouse. The larger store opened in October 2018.
Val Squires said: “We don’t really need two in the same town though.”
Brian Andrews-Rowley added: “I can absolutely understand why, too.
“What’s the point in keeping one store open when there’s a bigger, better one open 13 hours a day less than a quarter mile away? Makes no economic sense.”
But many said the town centre one was more accessible. They added it was particularly popularity with the elderly and those who did not drive or have cars as it was next to the bus station.
Neil Godwin said it was needed for those who had no car and found it difficult to walk.
“A lot of us over 60s will not be able to lug bags of shopping to the bus station, so they will lose a lot of Tuesday customers who catch the bus, as Mill Lane is right next to the bus station.
“I went to the Food Warehouse last week and I don’t like the store, too big and impersonal.”
Brian Young said: “Lots of older people use this store because it is so close to the bus station.”
Janet Mcintosh added: “Like previous replies the bus station is right there so it’s easy to go in do the shopping have it delivered catch bus home.”
Questions over deliveries
A few people who commented said the Food Warehouse did not offer deliveries and questioned what would happen after February 25.
We approached Iceland several times over the past fortnight regarding the closure but no-one returned our calls or emails. We will be trying to contact the company again in a bid to clarify the situation regarding deliveries.
Wider problems with the town centre
Others expressed concerns about the town centre as a whole.
Janet Burford said: “We need some bigger an better shops to get people to come into town, it’s like a ghost town.
“Kidderminster is just the same – people would rather go to retail shops, it’s usually free parking too.
“Such a shame but go Worcester or Merry Hill – there’s more shops on retail parks.
“It is also a shame for pensioners – it’s like their little local shop Iceland but this won’t be the first or last to close.”
Jenny Candyass Fowler added: “There are hardly any good shops in Bromsgrove now. We went before Xmas and were so disappointed.”
And Jon Read said: “Bromsgrove is like Stourbridge – a dying town.”
Tony Cant said most town centres were struggling and it was not just a problem in Bromsgrove.
Mike Marshall added: “The architecture of the building is disgusting. Knock it down!”
- What do you think about the Iceland closure? What shops would you like to see in Bromsgrove town centre? Email us your views to [email protected]
