'HIGHBRIDGE is growing so it is great to be adding to the town'

Those are the words of Peter Tilley, manager of Proper Job's new Highbridge store, who said he is 'excited' to welcome customers into the store when it opens later this week.

The DIY firm moved into the former Co-op site in Southwell Crescent at the end of last year and has spent the last two months refurbishing the store, which has been empty since October 2018.

Speaking ahead of the opening Mr Tilley said he hopes the new store, which will create six jobs, will be a boost to the town.

He said: "We are very excited and happy to be opening a store in Highbridge.

"We already have a successful store in Burnham-on-Sea and when the site came up we jumped at the chance.

"Highbridge is growing so it is great to be adding to the town.

"The store is in a great location next to the M5, has ample parking and is a big store so we have plenty of room to stock our products.

"We have had a really positive response from people since we announced that we would be opening the store.

"We are planning to do a soft opening of the store at the end of this week and have a bigger launch event a week or so later.

"We have a lot of people who know us locally and regularly shop with us and it will be great to see them at the store."

The Highbridge store will be Proper Job's 16th store with the firm also having stores in Burnham-on-Sea, Bridgwater and Worle.

Mike Murphy, chairman of Highbridge Chamber of Trade, welcomed the news and said he hopes the store will be a success.

He said: "The fact that Highbridge is the location for the 16th Proper Job store is another confirmation that the town's fortunes have reached their turning point.

"Proper Job will be another destination which adds footfall to the town and I am pleased they are moving into the former Co-op site.

"Highbridge could become quite a destination as there is a lot of development going on.

"The YMCA is redeveloping the Highbridge hotel with a sports hall which will be a great facility for the town and Sopha has recently opened so more business is coming into Highbridge.

"I wish Proper Job the best of luck for the future."