Gwynedd politicians slam ‘blanket decision’ to close Caernarfon Argos store

Two North Wales politicians have criticised a decision to close a long-established Argos store in Caernarfon.

It follows an announcement by Sainsburys (who own Argos) that 420 of their stores are closing with the loss of 3,500 jobs.

Plaid Cymru’s MP for Arfon Hywel Williams and MS Siân Gwenllian are also seeking further clarity about the future of another store in Bangor.

It follows an announcement by Sainsburys (who own Argos) that 420 of their stores are closing with the loss of 3,500 jobs.

The pair said: “It is a real regret that Sainsburys have taken the decision to close their popular Argos store in Caernarfon without, as far as we can see, any acknowledgment of the impact this will have on the local community.

“It looks like this is a blanket policy, a one-size-fits-all approach applied across all Argos stores with next to no concern given to local conditions or the impact this closure will have on their loyal customer base in Caernarfon.

“Have Argos bosses fully assessed the potential reputational damage of closing long-established stores in places like Caernarfon, where there is no Sainsburys alternative.

“We sympathise with those who have lost their jobs, at a time when finding alternative employment is extremely challenging.

“Whilst we understand that some staff members have already been redeployed to the Argos store in Bangor, we seek firm assurances that the future of that store is now secured for the future.

“As we have sadly seen with the closure of many big-name retailers, local conditions are seldom considered.

“Big firms should be mindful of the impact such decisions can have on areas where similar retail provision is few and far between.”