UTTOXETER'S high street has been dealt another blow after travel firm Thomas Cook confirmed it is to close its town centre branch.
However, it is hoped the three members of staff at the branch will not lose their jobs and will be redeployed elsewhere in the company but bosses have said redundancy cannot be ruled out.
The High Street store will remain open for business until March or April next year after staff consultations end.
The joint venture between Thomas Cook retail and the Co-operative Group travel business confirmed last week it planned to close 115 high street stores, putting 661 jobs at risk.
The proposals followed the completion of the joint venture’s review of its UK store network that commenced immediately after it formally started operations in October.
Trade union Usdaw said it has been told that the stores earmarked for closure have been selected on the basis of lease expiry dates, financial performance, proximity to other stores and the profile of their customer catchment area.
The decision to close the Uttoxeter store may have been influenced by the fact there is a branch of Co-op Travel also on the High Street.
Ian Ailles, Thomas Cook UK mainstream CEO and chairman of the retail joint venture, said: “We can confirm we’re proposing that our Thomas Cook store in Uttoxeter High Street will close.
“We have another store, a Co-operative Travel, on the High Street which is very close to the store that is closing, as well as www.thomascook.com and other leading websites — which will continue to support all of our customer’s travel needs.
“We’re working with those potentially affected colleagues at stores, as they go through the consultation period.
“Our high street stores are a popular way for customers to book with us and are an essential part of our multi-channel approach alongside our websites and sales centres.” The company said the proposals are subject to a statutory 90-day consultation period and no closures or redundancies are expected before March 17 next year.
Sharon Ainsworth, Usdaw national officer added: “Thomas Cook is fully consulting with Usdaw and our key priority will be to keep the number of compulsory redundancies to an absolute minimum.
“Hopefully there will be opportunities for redeployment and we’ll be trying to maximise these and do everything else to support and represent our members through this difficult time.
“There is never a good time to be told your job is at risk but to hear just before Christmas is particularly devastating for everyone affected.”
