A popular and well established jewellers is shutting its store in the centre of Wellington - amid hopes it will reopen elsewhere in the town.
A popular and well established jewellers is shutting its store in the centre of Wellington - amid hopes it will reopen elsewhere in the town.
David Lloyd, at the bottom of New Street, has been operating in Wellington for more than 25 years and is the latest in a line of shops and stores to put up the shutters.
It is looking to downsize to a smaller property because of the level of rent and rates.
Owner David Lloyd said he was aiming to find alternative premises in Wellington but so far that search had been unsuccessful.
The jewellers was founded by Mr Lloyd in the early 1980s as a family-run business with his wife Susan.
The popularity of the store led to two more shops being opened in Newport and Ludlow.
Mr Lloyd said that if he was unable to remain in Wellington, he would set up another store in Newport.
He said: “Our lease runs out in October and our current location is too large. The increase in rates over the years has also added to the problem, but we are hoping to stay in Wellington.
“If we cannot stay in Wellington then we may move the store to Newport.
“We’ve had very nice comments from our customers who have all been very supportive and said they do not want to see us leave.”
David Riley, president of Wellington Chamber of Commerce, said: “If the David Lloyd store is leaving Wellington, I think it’s an absolute tragedy, as it offered a great service to Wellington and is just the type of business the town needs to hold onto.
“Although there are many businesses which have left the town, this is something that happens in the normal course of business communities.
“If you look at Wellington over the last 12 months, it is apparent that quite a number of new businesses have opened up in the town,” Mr Riley added.
