Bargain in store for Lymington (From Daily Echo)

Bargain in store for Lymington

8:10am Saturday 27th June 2009 in News

IT was the town that was once said to have been too posh even for an Argos store.

But now residents in upmarket Lymington are bracing themselves for the arrival of bargain basement 99p stores in the town.

Lymington made headlines three years ago when shopkeeper Pippa Redman launched a campaign against plans to open an Argos shop on the site of the former Waitrose supermarket.

Mrs Redman claimed Argos would not be welcome opposite her Amanini boutique in St Thomas Street and the old Waitrose eventually became an M&S food store.

But now, just a couple of hundred yards along the road in High Street, the cut-price 99p Store is moving into the spacious former Woolworths next month, creating 30 jobs.

Store promoter Graham Barnes said: “There was a time when maybe there was a stigma about bargain brand stores. But not now.

“In time gone past some customers parked their smart cars a few blocks away and came in head-down.

“Now it’s head held high, an amble and a marvel at what is on the shelves and a leisurely stroll to the till.”

Jenny Welker, president of Lymington Chamber of Commerce and Industry, was not so sure.

She welcomed the store to the town but said: “It wouldn’t have been my first choice, but it’s nice to see the shop being filled so we haven’t got an empty store there.

“I would have liked to have seen a store come to the town that would have enhanced Lymington, to pull people from Southampton to Lymington.

“I don’t believe that they will come to Lymington for a 99p store.”

She agreed people now love a bargain but added: “There are 99p stores everywhere.”

Mrs Redman was on holiday but her business partner said: “No comment. We had enough trouble last time, thank you.”