New lease of life for town centre store

The 1,300 square-metre building is certainly big enough for two shops but at this stage it is unclear whether Mackays will operate out of both of them or lease one out to another retailer.

No deal has yet been finalised between Mackays, at present further along the High Street, and Somerfield but if the move goes ahead, it could provide a welcome boost to trade at the far end of town, which has seen a decline since Somerfield moved their store to the site of the old Safeway supermarket.

The old Somerfield store, which attracted many shoppers to the far end of the town, has remained empty since it was closed more than two months ago, ending a 40-year period which saw a supermarket either on or near the site.

Town councillor Mark Butler said: "If that is the case then it's brilliant news for that end of the High Street because since the demise of the Somerfield store there, to say that it has been sterilised is an understatement.

"Traders at that end of town have been struggling and the short footfall in that area has also been shown by the fact that the car park at that end of town is virtually always empty.

"Although it's not a supermarket, which would attract more people, I'm delighted that something is going in there.

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But I'm also concerned as to what's going to go into the old Mackays shop, which will need a new tenant."

A spokesman for Mackays, Graham Muir, said: "We have not yet finalised a deal with Somerfield over the store but it is fairly likely that it will happen."