Store fears over footfall after entrance boarded up

A department store director says he is worried about falling customer numbers after the main entrance doors were partly boarded up as part of development work.

Steve Tyler, one of three directors of Tylers Department Store in Carillon Court, Loughborough, said the doors still open but the boards over the glass portions of the doors give the impression the store is closed.

Leicester Commercial Ltd wants to knock down about 70% of the Carillon Court shopping centre and replace it with new student flats.

Martin Herbert, a consultant working on behalf of the developers said the store was given 18 months' notice to reconfigure its entrance.

Mr Tyler says anything that affects customers' ability to enter the store has a "detrimental effect on footfall".

He said legal proceedings were ongoing over access rights between the company and the developer.

"We have a main entrance to the mall, which is just outside our doors, which we rely on for all our customers to come in and out of safely," Mr Tyler said.

"Unfortunately, last Wednesday night the developer decided he was going to board up the glass element of the doors.

"We've got contingency plans because we suspected that something like this might happen, so we're going to look at providing another entrance onto the main thoroughfare but we intend to stay here.

"We have always asked the developer please work with us and not against us. We are not against the development, never have been."

Mr Herbert, from Space Retail Consultants, who are advising the developers, said the store's right of access through the shopping centre was always on a short-term basis.

"They have known we are closing the shopping centre since October 2023," he said.

"So, they've had 18 months' notice to look at options to reconfigure their entrance - it doesn't have to be within the shopping centre and they have chosen not to take notice."

Sean Hutton, 56, from Shepshed, who has been a customer of the store for more than 30 years, said: "As a customer it's causing confusion.

"The sign says no entry when clearly there is entry, you can get through the doors currently.

"We've just seen someone walk to the doorway and turn around and walk away."

Julie Hutton, 61, also from Shepshed, added: "It's a family business. We know their grandad, their great grandad, their history and these guys are just trying to survive and this doesn't help."

Rebecca Turner, 38, from Quorn, said: "Tylers has been established for over 100 years, supported the town and I think it's appalling.

"It's a disgrace not only for Tylers but I've got a pram and it was awkward for me to open the doors and get in, and also for disabled access."

Charnwood Borough Council ruled last month that the developer needed to secure planning permission before any demolition work can start on the shopping centre.

A spokesperson said it had considered an application on behalf of the developers and its "view was that as the proposal was to demolish part of a building, it did not meet the requirements under permitted development and would therefore require planning permission".

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