The Range opens at former Wilko
COUNCILLORS have described the opening of The Range in Hucknall as a “red letter day”.
On Friday, a queue of customers formed outside the store, on Central Walk, which is owned by Ashfield District Council. It was previously home to Wilko, but had stood empty since October 8 last year, when the retailer collapsed into administration.
Hucknall Ashfield Independent councillors Trevor Locke, Gordon Mann, John Wilmott, and Lee Waters all attended the opening. Councillor Waters said: “Today was a red letter day for us. When Wilko went into administration in August Independent Councillors Dave Shaw, John Wilmott and I held an urgent meeting with Councillor Jason Zadrozny and the leadership of Ashfield District Council.
“We immediately tasked the council to find a new anchor tenant and are delighted to welcome The Range to Hucknall in March and the jobs and prosperity they will bring. Favourable trading conditions like our two free hours’ parking ... was extremely attractive to them.”
Councillor John Wilmott added: “159 days ago, Wilko closed their doors in Hucknall. It was a dark day for our town, coupled with the fact that our latest Levelling Up bid had been turned down.
“Fast forward, over five months and Hucknall is bustling again with a brilliant, shiny new store and plans to transform Hucknall given the green light.”
The first 50 shoppers in the opening-day queue won a goody bag featuring some of the business’ best-loved items, with the first customer in line receiving a prize worth over £125.