Three big retailers to leave Dorchester Town Centre

Three large retail stores in Dorchester Town Centre have posted signs for closing down sales, amid financial difficulties during the coronavirus pandemic.

Peacocks, Edinburgh Woolen Mill and M&Co in South Street have put up closing down sale signs.

But, it could be an opportunity for more local retailers to move in - that's the view of the president of Dorchester Chamber for Business.

10 new independent shops have opened in the County Town since the start of the pandemic.

Steve Farnham is president of Dorchester Chamber for Business. He said:

"The message for shops is it's not going to be the easiest period for you, but you've got to stand out and generally we need to try and attract people back to the town centre rather than sitting and doing their Christmas shopping online."

He's urging locals to support shops in the town centre, rather than doing all your shopping online.

"The older generation in particular, who historically had not shopped online, or at least had not to the extent of the younger generation during the complete lockdown had to go and do that, so we do need people coming back to the High Street to make things a little bit better for the shops but there at the moment.

Steve acknowledges that big stores leaving the town puts landlords in a difficult position with larger premises. He added:

"We've had 10 shops open during the coronavirus. You know, it does bode well in terms of independents taking over those shops. Landlords have got work with those people who are looking to start out in their fledgling businesses."

"Premises like Marks and Spencers are more difficult to fill because you need a major operator to be able to go into those, but I think landlords these days are being more co-operative with tenants than historically would have been the case.

"Landlords are not going to want them not attracting rent and landlords paying business rates on."