ANOTHER business has been forced out of a beleaguered Poole shopping precinct, that’s struggled since losing its main supermarket last year.

The manager of Ad Adastral Laundrette, David Spencer, says he’s moving on because of spiralling costs, anti-social behaviour and a lack of customers.

Mr Spencer, who moved into the unit more than three years ago, warned: “I fear the square could be coming to an end soon.”

Somerfield supermarket closed at Ad Adastral Square just weeks before last Christmas. Since then, some traders have struggled in the tough financial conditions.

Mr Spencer believes the precinct should reclaim its rightful place as a community hub on Poole’s sprawling Canford Heath Estate, but he’s called for landlords to lower rents and a supermarket to move back.

“Trade wasn’t too bad until the closure of the supermarket,” he told the Daily Echo. “But that closure made a difference.

“Other than takeaways, there is not that much of a reason for residents to come to the square anymore.

“I’ve had a lot of problems with kids hanging around, they sit in the Laundrette when its raining. I feel sorry for them really, as there isn’t much for them to do.

“But they climb inside the dryers and I’ve had my windows smashed twice.”

However, it was the spiralling cost of utilities bills that finally sent the laundrette into the abyss.

Mr Spencer said: “Electrical, gas, water – these are essential to running a launderette. But the bills have just kept on rising. We’ve pleaded with the landlords and letting agents to reduce rents on the building but they’ve refused. There is absolutely no budging there.

“They have dug their heels in and said if the unit becomes empty, it becomes empty.

“Everything has gone up, and it is these costs that have forced us out in the end.

“I do think with the help of some kind of supermarket at the square we would have done a lot better trade.”

Rumours of a Tesco takeover at the vacant store site were ruled out by the supermarket giant earlier this year. The launderette closes next month.

• THERE are a dozen units at Adastral Square, next to Canford Heath’s Pilot pub.

Of these, the largest one – that used to be Somerfield supermarket – remains boarded up.

The bookies has also closed down but the off-license reports good trade.

Adastral Square boasts two estate agents, a restaurant, two takeaways, a barber’s shop, a chemist, the charity shop and – for one month only – the launderette.