Balfour is set to close (From Chard & Ilminster News)

Balfour is set to close

6:08pm Wednesday 29th August 2007 in Chard By Steve Sowden

A TOWN centre newsagents and convenience store is to close its doors for the final time at the end of trading on Saturday (Sept 1).

The closure of the Balfour store in Fore Street, Chard, which is run by the Co-op, will mean the loss of one full-time and 16 part-time jobs.

The news was announced last month and a Co-operative Group spokesman said the closure decision was taken with reluctance and regret' and was due to the store's poor trading performance.

Customers are being told this week that the Co-op Food Store, just down the road from Balfour, will be accommodating a larger range of news and magazines, cards and non-food items from Sunday (Sept 2).

Store manager Rob Garland said: "We will also be able to deal with all pay-point and lottery transactions at present currently dealt with at Balfour."

The Co-op will also increase its trading hours and from Monday (Sept 3) will open for business from 7am.