'Let's save Beatties!' - West Midlands Mayor Andy Street backs bid to avoid store closure
The West Midlands Mayor is joining forces with the city council in a last-ditch bid to save Beatties, the Express & Star can reveal.
Andy Street is in talks with city council leader Roger Lawrence to come up with a plan to force a U-turn by House of Fraser bosses.
The company has announced the closure of Wolverhampton’s historic department store as part of rescue plans that would see more than half its branches shut.
But former John Lewis boss Mr Street is urgently working with the city council on drawing up a case for the store to remain open.
It will cover ‘anything that affects their costs and sales’, said Mr Street who would not rule out considering offering relief on business rates.
It is estimated that the annual rate bill for the Victoria Street store is just under £500,000.
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What's next for Beatties? MP in pledge over future of iconic Wolverhampton store
He said: “I will do whatever I can to prevent this happening.
“Whether or not we can succeed, I do not know yet, but we will do everything we possibly can.
“We will try to assemble the strongest case possible that is designed to get them to change their mind. Anything that affects their costs and sales, we want to work on those things.”
He added: “We need to persuade them that that financial judgement is wrong and in Wolverhampton’s economy there is a place for a real iconic department store, I’ve spoken to Roger, I’m clear we will work together on this.”
The loss of Beatties is considered a major blow to the city centre, and comes at a time when council bosses have been desperately trying to revive its fortunes.
The £55 million Westside development, which includes a new cinema and restaurants, is in the pipeline, while work on the Interchange project around the city’s railway station is ongoing.
However, the city’s retail offer continues to provide the biggest headache.
House of Fraser is closing 31 of its 59 shops, including Birmingham’s Rackhams store and in Telford and Shrewsbury, with the bulk of them expected to go in January 2019.
A total of 6,000 jobs will go nationwide under the plans.
