3:12pm Tuesday 29th April 2008
By Julian Thorpe
THE decision of a popular chain store to leave Crompton Place is good news for Bolton, says council leader Cliff Morris.
TK Maxx has announced it will leave its first floor site in the shopping centre in favour of a bigger site on the edge of the town centre.
The cut-price chain said its new shop, near Sainsbury's in Trinity Street, would be "a more prime location" and allow it to stock a greater range of goods.
Cllr Morris, who chairs the Town Centre Leadership Board, said the move was not a snub for the town centre and that the relocated store would create more jobs.
"I would say that the retail park is still within the town centre," he said. "I'm pleased that they are staying in the town and creating more jobs.
"I'm hoping we can attract someone else to Crompton Place. If the shop is not big enough for them, I'm glad they want to expand in Bolton."
The new site will give TK Maxx an extra 10,000 square feet of floor space and 20 more jobs will be created.
Cllr Akhtar Zaman, the council's executive member for regeneration, said: "Bolton town centre is expanding.
"If TK Maxx is moving to Trinity Street, where there are car parking facilities, that area is flourishing. I think it will be good for the consumer. People will want to go there."
Cllr Zaman said he did not know whether any businesses were lined up to move into TK Maxx's present home in Crompton Place.
Crompton Place manager Malcolm Angus was unavailable for comment.
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