A SUPERMARKET in a mid Suffolk town is set to close at the end of the month, it is understood.

Elliot Furniss

A SUPERMARKET in a mid Suffolk town is set to close at the end of the month, it is believed.

Last night Aldi officials were unavailable to comment on the future of its Stowmarket store after staff told customers that it would soon be shutting for good.

The Aldi store in Stowmarket only opened three years ago but residents have reported that staff had been openly discussing the impending closure for weeks.

One resident, who asked not to be named, said an employee had discussed the closure with her and that staff had been given the option to take up posts at branches in Thetford or Brandon.

She said: “First of all I heard it from a neighbour and I went in and asked if it was right. She (the employee) said yes.

“Then the next time I went in they said they had got to stop (talking about it) and were saying they were not allowed to discuss it because it would be bad for business.”

Anne Whybrow, a Suffolk County Councillor for the Stowmarket South division, said the closure would be a blow to the town's economy, but it would be able to cope.

Mrs Whybrow, also the economic and cultural development portfolio holder for Stowmarket Town Council, said: “I heard these rumours six weeks ago and went to speak to the manager - I was quite concerned.”

Mrs Whybrow said the manager had been unable to confirm the news, but she remained worried about the number of jobs that could be lost.

She said: “It doesn't seem to have been there very long. If it's true, but it sounds like a rumour, we have to be concerned about the people that work there and that they are able to find new jobs elsewhere.

“But we're talking about Stowmarket - if a door closes, it soon opens again. If the rumour turns out to be true, we will get somebody in there quickly.

“Aldi are really kind to the town centre and the community as a whole; they have made the car park free for the first hour and that's why a lot of people have supported them and shop there and let's hope they can keep doing that.”