THE Topshop store in St Helens is set to close.
Today the Arcadia Group which owns Topshop announced that the Church Square Shopping Centre branch will cease trading on July 20.
They added that they will "endeavour to offer current staff other employment options within the Arcadia Group."
Sources told the Star that staff were placed under consultation last week.
National news reports a fortnight ago spelled out that Topshop was facing difficulties.
Topshop is one of the town's main fashion retailers for women
The Guardian newspaper stated that Arcadia group, which employs about 19,000 people, is desperate to secure a rescue restructure that will involve the closure of about 50 of the group’s 570 British stores.
If a deal cannot be agreed well before the group’s next rental payment in late June, Arcadia – which includes Topshop, Dorothy Perkins, Miss Selfridge, Wallis, Evans and Burton – could face administration.
The town centre's M&S store has closed
The closure will see another big name retailer leave the town centre. Earlier this year Argos and Marks and Spencer departed Church Street, with M&S relocating to the Ravenhead Retail Park.
Church Square shopping centre was bought for £26.6m by St Helens Council two years ago to give the local authority greater control over town centre regeneration.
But residents have voiced fears over what they regard as a lack of progress.
Last week Cllr David Baines, who is due to be formally appointed as leader of the council later this month, said the regeneration of the borough’s towns and district centres is one of his “priorities” as leader.
“It’s something we have to see firm progress on, quick progress in the next 12 months,” Cllr Baines said.
READ> Incoming council leader wants rapid progress on town centre
“It’s a priority for residents, it comes up on the doorstep again and again.
“Everyone I know tells me how important it is to get St Helens town centre changed.
“What everyone understands, I think, is that a lot of things that have happened to the town centre are out of our control.”
LONG READ: What does the future hold for St Helens town centre
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