Pontypool town centre is bracing for the closure of one of its flagship stores, with Peacocks announcing it will shut its branch on Crane Street in August. The move has sparked concern among shoppers and traders that a major reason to visit the town will disappear.
The store on Crane Street sits between Commercial Street and the pedestrianised George Street, near Tesco and a large car park with entrances to Pontypool Indoor Market. After it closes, the nearest Peacocks will be in Cwmbran, giving customers another reason to travel the five miles to one of Wales' largest shopping centres.
Traders describe town centre as 'dead'
Many traders in Pontypool are already downcast about the town centre's fortunes. One shopkeeper described it as 'dead', while a cafe employee on a midweek lunchtime admitted: 'I've not served one customer yet today. We've prepared all this food but there are no customers.'
Tania Britten, who owns The Craft Cabin at the market's Crane Street entrance, said Peacocks is important to the town centre. 'Footfall is already down,' she said. 'Peacocks is the only shop, even for people living in Pontypool, to attract people to come into town.'
Ms Britten said she hopes the building will be occupied quickly but is not aware of any proposed new use. The former hospital pharmacist, who bought her shop six years ago, said she would still encourage others to open a business in the town. 'I've got very good customers and I love Pontypool, the community has been great and I'd say come give it a try,' she said.
New business faces empty neighbours
Mohammed Lal expanded his homeware store from Newport by opening another branch of his Danny Home chain in Crane Street. But two months after opening in the former Wilko's store, the closure of Peacocks means he faces the prospect of being flanked on either side by two large, vacant units—Farmfoods having also closed.
While that building is understood to have been sold, no clear plans for its future use are known. Mr Lal said he is already concerned at a lack of passing trade. 'There's not that many people passing in the street and there would be less people passing,' he said, reflecting on his difficult early days in the town.
Market traders upset by latest closure
Husband and wife Mary and Paul Evans have separate stalls facing each other on either side of the market arcade that connects Crane Street to the hall. 'We are all upset in here,' said Mrs Evans about news of the latest closure. 'Peacocks has always been in town. It's going to affect us all.'
Torfaen Borough Council has repeatedly said most retail units in the town centre are privately owned, but it said it wants to support businesses 'to thrive'. Its own regeneration efforts include the conversion of a public toilet block to a cafe, and support to restore a derelict church to an events space. It has also used Welsh Government Transforming Towns funding to refurbish and re-let town centre properties. According to a council report, a potential revamp of the market could help it attract 'more aspirational visitors with higher disposable income'.
New food stall owner remains positive
Fatima Jiménez Toledo opened her Xolo Mexican food stall in Pontypool Market two months ago, having moved to the town last year after living in Newport for two years. Ms Toledo, who is from Puebla in Mexico, is assisted in the kitchen by her mother Ade Toledo, and said she serves 'traditional Mexican food, not Tex-Mex'.
'Mum is a traditional cook, when she was younger she did not have a blender and had to make food by hand and the way she learned to cook was with a fire and a pan,' Ms Toledo said. 'We're bringing the original flavours from Mexico and doing that here in Wales to show this is real Mexican food.'
Ms Toledo said many local people have told her the relocation, several years ago, of Tesco from the centre of town to its southern boundary has hit footfall. She said the loss of Peacocks wouldn't help perceptions of the town. 'When a big branch shuts the door, in general, people think something is not going right here,' she said.
She however is 'very positive' about trading prospects in the market and said: 'I think we can attract more people to Pontypool Market and bring a new vibe to this place and attract new people who want to try a new culture.'
