DESPITE denials earlier this week B&M has confirmed it will take on the former Morrisons site in Burnham.

The nationwide store, that sells anything from food to electricals, clothing to pet food and garden equipment to hardware, will open the Pier Street store this year.

A spokesman for B&M confirmed the firm would take over the store, and said the firm was looking forward to opening.

A spokesman added: "We are pleased to confirm that we have exchanged contracts with Morrisons on their development on Pier Street.

“We’re feeling really positive about the creation of jobs for local people and we hope customers are going to be delighted with their new store.

“We are all really excited to get the doors open and welcome our new customers through the door.”

At a private meeting of traders at the Dunstan Inn last week the impact of the store on local shops was discussed with the MP James Heappey.

Traders have told the Weekly News they fear B&M will close down some smaller stores in the town that sell similar goods as the national retailer is known for its low prices.

The chain announced the closure in September last year as part of a drive to manage the company finances, with 11 stores going across the country, as well as its convenience store chain.

Shoppers in Burnham launched a petition to keep the supermarket open and were joined in the fight by MP James Heappey, who wrote a letter to the retailing giant appealing for it to remain.

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However, Morrisons maintained the store was not viable economically.

The MP for the Wells constituency that includes Highbridge and Burnham said at the time: "I have reflected the concerns raised by the campaign group to Morrisons and in particular what appeared to be a discrepancy in the reasons for the closure.

"And secondly I asked if there was any possibility they could keep it open.

"They said it was about sales and the store was unviable. The only way the store can be saved is with a significant cut in the rent and rates which is unachievable as a concession."

He said he had touted the town to Sainsbury's, Waitrose and Tesco as there is a "gap to be filled" in the town's retail offering.

A Morrisons’ spokesman said of the decision: “We have looked extremely carefully at whether our store in Burnham-on-Sea can be turned around but unfortunately we cannot see a way of making it viable.

"We are therefore proposing its closure. We are consulting with colleagues and unions and we will be discussing how to reduce redundancies and redeploy colleagues around our business.”

MP James Heappey said: "My reservations over the arrival of a retailer like B&M in Burnham-on-Sea are well documented and I remain very concerned.

"When deciding which lines to stock, I hope that B&M will be sympathetic to what is already on offer on the High Street and that they take the very first opportunity to meet with local businesses so that their concerns can be allayed.

"That said, the new store will bring new jobs and potentially new shoppers to the town centre.

"With the deal done – no matter what my reservations – I look forward to welcoming B&M to the town."

After the announcement, the campaign group raised a petition with hundreds of signatures and had the backing of the town council following a demonstration at an Old Courthouse meeting.

But the store closed for the last time on Sunday, November 29, with the loss of around 100 jobs.

Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News:

  • The former Morrisons store in Burnham is set to be taken over by discount retailer B&M

  • The site is in a prime location on Burnham seafront

HAVE YOUR SAY:

  • Will B&M's arrival be good for Burnham? Or would you like to have seen the site put to a different use? 

Whatever your view, leave a comment below or email harry.mottram@nqsw.co.uk