'Heartbreaking' High Street closure deals a blow to Ross-shire's county town as traders battle Covid-19 impact
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
The closure of the highly popular Edinburgh Woollen Mill store has dealt another blow to Ross-shire’s market town as local traders do their best to welcome customers during the uncertainty of the Covid-19 pandemic.
One other store in Penrith in Cumbria was also shuttered while three others were earmarked for closure as well with closing down signs appearing in their windows.
Shocked staff at the Dingwall premises were given less than 24 hours notice telling them to cease trading on Saturday at 4pm leaving a massive empty retail space on the High Street.
Recently delivered stock was seen being packed-up and loaded onto a lorry earlier in the week before the premises were effectively shuttered despite having a “welcome back sign” in the window when the outlet reopened after the lockdown.
“It is just heartbreaking to see it closing because actually the High Street has been fighting back, it has been doing well and I was down yesterday and it was really busy and the traders have been doing their best to welcome people and this is a big loss."
The news was broken by Dingwall and Seaforth Councillor Graham Mackenzie who wrote on social media: “Sadly Dingwall’s Edinburgh Woollen Mill store will cease trading at close of business today. This is a blow for our High Street.”
The EWM group also owns Peacocks, Austin Reed, Jaeger and Jacques Vert and has been trying to fend off administration having just last week been granted an extension to find new investors or a buyer.
The group, controlled by tycoon Philip Day, had already filed a notice of intent to appoint administrators, giving it protection from any legal action by its creditors.
Councillor Margaret Paterson said the loss of such an outlet to the High Street was “very sad” and heartbreaking for the staff.
“We knew for quite a while they were in difficulties but the stores that were doing well would be kept open and the Dingwall one was doing so well that we were quite confident that it would stay open,” she said.
“So it was an absolute shock when we heard it would be closing down. It is a big loss to the High St because it was a big store, it took many people in from the wider catchment area, it was a very good shop.
“It is just heartbreaking to see it closing because actually the High Street has been fighting back, it has been doing well and I was down yesterday and it was really busy and the traders have been doing their best to welcome people and this is a big loss.
“This is very bad for the staff, it is heartbreaking for them, it is a job, they liked what they were doing, they were so good, it was an experience to go in there and shop. It was absolutely right for Dingwall.”
