Two shops moving to new site

Two shops in Kidderminster's showpiece Weavers Wharf Retail Park are hoping to move to a new site rather than leave the town, it was announced today.

There was concern that the Pavers and Leading Labels stores could be forced out of town by plans for Debenhams and a hotel to take over the Slingfield Mill building where they are based.

But store bosses are hoping to stay in Kidderminster and are currently actively seeking somewhere to relocate.

Among the properties they are believed to be considering are the former Marks & Spencer store in High Street, the former Bewise store, in Worcester Street, and the controversial Littlewoods building, also in Worcester Street, which has stood idle for more than two years.

It closed its doors in January 2006 and was sold off as one of 120 bought by Primark but the retail giant decided not to press ahead with development on the site.

Mr David Gummery, managing director for Leading Labels, based in York, said that he hoped that if Leading Labels and Pavers stores managed to relocate that they could create extra jobs.

He said: "We would expect all the staff would be relocated and there could also be the creation of new jobs as well."