Plight of Bangor’s closure-threatened Debenhams store raised in Parliament

The plight of one of three Debenhams stores in North Wales which have been threatened with closure has been raised in Parliament.

The company, which has 124 stores across the UK including Wrexham, Llandudno and Bangor, entered into administration in April of this year.

Talks for a rescue deal had been taking place with sports retailer JD, however they fell through earlier this week after the company pulled out.

Hywel Williams, Plaid Cymru MP for Arfon,  has raised the plight of his local Debenhams store in Bangor city centre with the UK Government, as all of the high street giant’s stores now look set to close.

Raising the matter as an urgent question in the House of Commons, he said: “Debenhams is a cornerstone employer in Bangor city centre. Its closure will be a severe blow to staff who’ve worked there loyally for years.

“Even more so, given that the North Wales Business Council report this week that across the region 17% of businesses in retail and hospitality have already made redundancies.

“However, thinking creatively, what consideration has the Minister given to material government support for repurposing large retail spaces into smaller, short-term start-up units and that alongside practical support for those made redundant.”

Mr Williams added: “The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, including the closure of retail stores for prolonged periods has undoubtedly contributed to this announcement.

“Now more than ever, our town centres need urgent and targeted government support to help them recover post-Covid.

“Plaid Cymru have proposed a series of measures to address the difficulties faced by our high streets and help rejuvenate town centres.

‘These include providing out-of-town businesses with targeted support to relocate to central locations to help regenerate town centres and a radical overhaul of business rates, providing high street firms with a fair renting framework.

‘Repurposing large retail spaces into smaller units, some specifically for short term start-ups would enable new local people to enter the sector and provide many new retail jobs.

“And local start-ups are more likely to stay than the large multiples which have been closing one after another.”