Uncertainty remains over the future of Wilko in Bournemouth

It comes after Wilko confirmed it has served a notice of discontinuance to the landlord of the unit in the Richmond Gardens Shopping Centre in Old Christchurch Road.

This means that Wilko is duty bound to hand back the store on April 12 - though the company is yet to agree on a date that it will cease trading.

A spokesperson for Wilko said:

“Wilko confirms that it is planning to close its Dalkeith Arcade store in February 2022.

“Unfortunately, we’ve been unable to agree more favourable lease terms with the landlord and have served a notice of discontinuance which outlines the date we anticipate handing back the store.

“We’re doing everything we can to support our affected team members and apologise for any inconvenience to customers. We’ll continue to offer them everything they need in nearby stores or via wilko.com.”

READ MORE: Wilko to close in Bournemouth town centre

READ MORE: Wilko: Town Centre BID ‘very hopeful of a positive outcome'

However, a spokesperson for London & Cambridge Properties Ltd the property management company for Richmond Gardens Shopping Centre confirmed it “remains in conversation with Wilkos in the hope an agreement can be reached for the tenant to stay in occupation”.

The Daily Echo received reports from team members at Wilko stating they had not been told the store would close by the company and instead found out when the news was published.

The spokesperson for Wilko said: “At Wilko, we always try to tell our team members first about any news that impacts them.

“Unfortunately, on this occasion, this was taken out of our hands and for that we’re sorry.

“Following the early announcement, we did immediately speak to all affected team members to talk them through their options including offering available positions in nearby stores.”

The chairman of Bournemouth Town Centre BID, Martin Davies, said: “Of course this is disappointing because Wilko is a popular store, but rather like New Look, this appears to be mainly a matter between the landlord and the tenant and it is an issue that is being played out in town and city centres across the country.

“It’s also an issue that will remain until all the relevant parties recognise the changing nature of town centres and the need to do things differently and more flexibly. There is big and intelligent debate to be had about this.

“There is plenty of cause for optimism in Bournemouth town centre, and I speak both as the BID chairman but also as a businessman and a town centre levy payer.

“We have many great, vibrant independent businesses sitting along the national brands and that is really important to remember. We also have a fantastic unrivalled location.”

Mr Davies added: “I think there are a number of opportunities for that space including a supermarket or indeed the kind of health village recently set up by the NHS in the Dolphin Centre Poole. Both would bring the significant extra footfall we would like to see.”