Morrisons issues update after shock closure of two Blackpool stores

Supermarket giant Morrisons has confirmed the reasoning behind the recent closure of two Blackpool stores amid controversial council plans.

The two Morrisons Daily stores were located at 168 Lytham Road and 210 Central Drive.

Images had been circulating on social media of both stores boarded up.

A spokesperson from Morrisons confirmed the closure of both stores. They said: “The Morrisons Daily on Lytham Road is a franchise operated store and the franchisee has recently made the decision to close the store. The Morrisons Daily on Central Drive closed on the 12th July.

"The performance of all company owned stores across our Convenience business is subject to continuous review. This process has identified a number of stores, which were part of the McColl’s acquisition, whose performance has been challenged for a number of years and which are loss making, despite remedial action.

"Having completed the review, we are now proposing to take the tough but necessary decision to close a number of these stores over the next few months.

"The combination of the proposed closure of loss making stores and the continued addition of attractive new franchise openings will enable us to concentrate on those stores which work best for customers, improving the quality of our Convenience estate and making it stronger overall,” the spokesperson added.

The closure of the two stores adds to the ongoing changing face of Central Drive.

Both of the stores were located within close proximity to Blackpool Council’s proposed Central Drive regeneration project, which would see 300 existing buildings and properties demolished to make way for a major 260-home development.

Many residents and businesses have objected to the plans, which are currently under consideration.