Well worth a try for Chippenham (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Well worth a try for Chippenham

11:11am Friday 14th August 2009 in News By Scott McPherson

Trader Bob Perks hopes the old Woolies store in Chippenham High Street could re-open under a new name

Would-be entrepreneur David Day has launched a one-man campaign to get the former Woolworth’s store in Chippenham High Street re-opened.

Mr Day, 39, from Studley, is drawing up a business plan similar to that of Claire Robertson, who opened the Dorchester branch in Dorset as Wellworths earlier this year.

If successful, and he manages to secure the £190,000 annual rent, Mr Day is also proposing to re-hire the Woolies employees who were made redundant.

He said: “I, like everybody else, grew up with your local Woolworths store down the road and loved going in to buy the pic’n’mix and to browse the shelves.

“I thought it was terrible that more wasn’t done to save what was a small piece of Britain.

“I feel that Chippenham town centre is a bit lost without its Woolworth store.

“I know the shop couldn’t be named Woolworth’s, as it is now an online company, which is great, but people want their old favourite shop at the heart of the town.

“This is a dream of mine along the same line as the lady in Dorset, Claire Robertson, who re-opened her store as Wellworths.

“I was hoping to attract a financial backer to enable me to get the project off the ground, as I have not got the sort of money required to realise this dream.

Mr Day has written to Mrs Robertson in a bid to get her on board with setting up the store.

Mr Day has also approached Eagle One Retail, which owns the Emery Gate Shopping Centre, where the former store is based, and has been told by them the lease for the building is £190,000 per year.

A spokesman for Eagle One confirmed they had received interest in the shopping unit and were waiting for further information.

Mr Day wants to sell the traditional goods found in the old Woolworths stores.

He is hoping that with the right financial backing he could manage the project and bring back the former employees.

He will also be putting money into the project.

Mr Day has worked in care homes in and around Chippenham for 20 years and wants to bring something back to the community.

Vice-president of the Chippenham Chamber of Commerce Bob Perks said they supported the idea.

He said: “We feel very positive about this and any support we can give to the project we will.

“Woolworth’s left a big hole when it went and if this business would be in the same vein it would be supported by all I think.

“We are keen to meet with the man behind this and discuss the possibilities.”