Published at 19:40, Thursday, 15 May 2008

A WORKINGTON town centre clothes shop under threat of closure has had a last minute reprieve.

Ethel Austin, on Campbell-Savours Way, was due to close after the company went into administration last month, but after talks with town centre development manager Dave Fletcher, the shop will now stay open.

Mr Fletcher said: “Talks were held last Friday between myself and Ethel Austin.

“It looked like they were going to pull out of the town centre but we worked hard, right up until the last minute, to make sure that they stay.”

If the business had left Workington then eight members of staff would have lost their jobs.

A new shop is also coming to Workington’s town centre.

X Catalogue, which sell appliances and bedding at discounted prices, has applied to Allerdale council to take on an empty unit next to Home Bargains on Campbell-Savours Way.

The shop will employ four people, and if planning permission is granted it should open next month.

Mr Fletcher said: “We are still waiting for them to sign up but all the signs are good.”

Meanwhile, rumours that Debenhams was set to close were quashed by Mr Fletcher, who stressed that the shop has a lease until 2030.

He said: “Debenhams is not leaving Workington. They are under contract here in our town centre until 2030 and I can’t see that changing.”

Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk