Halfords to close Cotswolds market town branch

A Gloucestershire market town is set to lose its branch of Halfords. The garage and shop in Stroud will be closing later this year.

The UK's leading provider of cycling, motoring services, vehicle servicing and repairs, Halfords has been in business for 125 years. A staple of the Stroud retail scene for decades, the outlet was previously situated in King Street before moving to the Five Valleys Shopping Centre in Merrywalks in 2008.

A spokesperson for Dransfield Properties, who own the Merrywalks site, said: "Halfords are coming out of their unit in November and we are currently in talks with three different retailers to take this space. Once an occupier is chosen this will lead to a net increase in jobs for the area."

Earlier this year, Halfords blamed the nationwide skills shortage and a decline in bicycle sales for a 20 per cent slump in its share price.The retailer has autocentres in Cheltenham, Gloucester and Cirencester, as well as stores in Gloucester, Tewkesbury and Cheltenham.

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References

1. ^{^} Gloucestershire residents' homes 'have moved' but they might not have realised it (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
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