B&M won't be opening a store in Bispham Poundstretcher unit, says retailer

It came after the news Poundstretcher was closing down its Blackpool store at the former B&Q site in Bispham, with a new Aldi set to take its place.

A sign appeared in the Holyoake Avenue store's window confirming its closure this week, with a closing date set for Friday, February 26.

Documents showed the huge 20,000sq ft retail space would be divided into two separate units, with Aldi occupying one of them and another retailer setting up shop next door.

It remains unknown which retailer will fill the space next door, but rumours circulated on social media this week that bargains store B&M would occupy it.

However, B&M refuted the claims, telling The Gazette the store had no plans at the moment to set up in Poundstretcher's place - although it did not rule the unit out for future development.

A spokesman for B&M Stores said: "It’s not one we’ve got on our list at the minute, but we’re always looking at new sites.

"We open more than 50 stores a year, so look at lots of sites at any one time."

Last year, Aldi developers moved forward with their plans for Holyoake Avenue after they agreed to pay £30,000 to improve the busy junction with Bispham Road, Plymouth Road, and Warbreck Hill Road.

The car park, which currently has two combined exits and entrances, would be overhauled to make it safer for pedestrians, and traffic would only be allowed to drive out from the farthest exit from the junction, documents revealed.

Meanwhile, B&M will be setting up a new shop a few miles away at Preston Docks.The discount retailer said it will open the doors to its new store at the former Homebase in Mariners Way, on Saturday, March 27.