ONE of Colchester’s last remaining butchers has closed and has warned the town centre is “dying on its knees”.

Jack Warnes has run Geller’s butchers, in St John Street, for 25 years but decided not to re-open after Christmas.

He said a lack of confidence in the town centre’s future and a cut in takings contributed to his decision.

Mr Warnes, who took over the shop in 1991, also said he expected things to get worse for independent traders.

The 45-year-old said: “It is not a decision we have taken lightly but if I’m honest, I’ve been thinking about it for the last three or four years.

“Colchester, as far as I’m concerned, is dying on its knees and the business rates being charged doesn’t help.”

Mr Warnes paid between £8,000 and £10,000 per year in business rates, which are set by central Government, but revealed he paid a private company to collected his retail waste because it was cheaper than paying Colchester Council to take it away.

He added: “It is little things like that.

“I was paying thousands of pounds a year and having to pay even more to have rubbish taken away.”

The butcher also said Colchester Council is focussing too much on bringing large chain stores to Colchester rather than working with independent retailers.

He added: “I can see why they do it, the chains are probably the thing that brings people into the town and they’re probably where you get your footfall from.

“For independents, small things mean a lot.

“When they closed St John Street over the summer to repair the sewers., that almost crippled us.

“There’s no question even after it re-opened footfall was down.

“People’s habits had changed. They weren’t getting the bus from outside Wilko’s anymore.”

He added: “I’ve loved being here and I would really like to say a big thank you to all my customers.

“We would never have last without them and we are genuinely sorry to go."

Tim Young, Colchester Council deputy leader, said: “Business rates are set nationally and the council just collects them on behalf of the Government.

“I don’t think it’s fair to say we favour chain stores and it’s unfortunate and I have sympathy with Mr Warnes because Geller’s has been a permanent fixture in the town.”

He added: "We do offer a service to business to see if there is anything we can do to help sustain the business and I would encourage any other independent shops or businesses which are struggling to see if there is any help we can provide.

"We want a mix and diverse range of shops in Colchester and I think we've got that actually."