|
Published:
February 4, 2006
Burnham
pet
shop owners hit out after Sanders unveils new pet store
There
are mounting fears that a brand new pet centre being opened at
Sanders Garden World, near Burnham-On-Sea, in March will hit trade
at small pet shops in the town.
The
Brent Knoll garden centre has controversially announced that it
is expanding its product range by opening a dedicated pet and
aquatic store on Saturday March 11th.
 This
has left local councillors and traders with new fears that trade
will be sucked out of Burnham.
June
Fisher, owner of The Pet Shop on Burnham High Street, told Burnham-On-Sea.com:
"It's bound to have an impact on us."
"An
out-of-town store with free parking is certain to draw away customers
when we have only a few parking spaces here in the town, most
of which have to be paid for."
Alan
Rose, owner of Animal Fayre, added: "Hopefully it won't have
too much of an effect. Sanders is some way out of town and I think
customers want the personal touch. Some may go to Sanders initially,
but I think our regulars will be back."
The
new Garden World pet centre will sell rabbits, hamsters, mice
and reptiles, in addition to tropical, marine and cold water fish
- all of which are currently sold at the two pet stores in Burnham
town centre.
Burnham-On-Sea
Mayor Eric Gill is also worried about the new store. "Traders
in the town have already said they have been having a bad time
of late and anything that takes away custom from them is deplorable,"
he told the Burnham Times.
"My
other worry is that they are in breach of a planning condition
because when they first opened, lists were drawn up with what
they can and can't sell."
RELATED
LINKS:
'Use it or lose it' warning
to Burnham shoppers
Sanders Garden World expansion
gets the green light
Town Council statement
on Garden World go-ahead
Sanders Garden World
|
