Another one bites the dust

Blockbuster, the DVD rental store, is to close its Newtown branch in High Street bringing another retail casualty to the town centre.

The store will close on the 27th May with the loss of several full and part-time jobs, although the company says it will offer re-deployment opportunities to them.

"We regularly review our store locations as requirements change within the business. We can confirm that we have made the tough decision to close the store in Newtown on the 27th May. We do look to redeploy staff where possible and will work with the impacted staff to provide as much support as we can during this difficult transition for them," said a Blockbuster spokesperson.

The news comes after several other high street chains pulled out of the town in recent months and the Chamber of Commerce looks to push for more activities to bring local customers and visitors back into the town centre.

Last week Poundstretcher opened its new store at the former Focus DIY building in Pool Road. While it closed its existing site in the Pryce Jones building,  the move has re-opened a road-side business in the town and some see it as acting as a magnet to attract shoppers back.

The Spar store in Broad Street has also re-opened after it closed in December following a fire at the Gulshan restaurant on the first floor of the building.

Meanwhile, as reported by mynewtown earlier this year, plans to refurbish the Market Hall in Newtown have been given the green light by councillors. The refurbishment will bring new facilities to the hall, including meeting rooms, a first floor sales area and asthetic improvements.