Stores’ opening confirmed
RETAIL giant Debenhams has confirmed that its stores in Carmarthen and Llanelli will reopen after lockdown.
The retail chain went into administration last month and had said it would not reopen stores in Wrexham, Llandudno, Cardiff, Swansea and Newport unless it received support towards its rates bills – similar to that offered to large stores in England.
The uncertainty over these stores trickled down to business leaders in Carmarthenshire, as while those stores were not marked as being at risk, they are important to both towns in terms of pulling power for bringing shoppers in.
Last month it reached an agreement to reopen Wrexham, Swansea and Newport stores – after agreements with local authorities – but warned that time was “running out” to save those in Llandudno and Cardiff.
The company have said that Llandudno and Cardiff were now safe – saying councils had been “very supportive” – and that eight Welsh stores including Carmarthen and Llanelli and Bangor will reopen when allowed to by Welsh Government guidelines.
The only Welsh store to remain shut after lockdown will be Merthyr Tydfil in a decision not related to business rates.
A spokesman for Debenhams said: “All the stores potentially affected will be reopening. Local councils have been highly supportive and we are pleased to confirm eight stores in Wales will reopen.”
The rates issue had focused on the discrepancy between Wales and England when it came to large properties.
In England, retail, leisure and hospitality properties of any size get a rates holiday for 2020-21 but in Wales those with rateable values over £500,000 are not included.
This has saved the Welsh Government £100 million, which it says has gone to smaller businesses. But it angered retailers like Debenhams, who warned it would impact its decision on which stores to reopen as it emerges from administration. The total rates bill on Llandudno, Cardiff, Swansea and Newport stores is £2.5 million.