Upset as Wilko's Colchester store set to close

The hardware and furnishings retailer tumbled into administration last month after it came under pressure from weak consumer spending and debts to suppliers.

The retailer will shut its final 111 stores in October as part of the final phase of closures, administrators for PwC said.

The Colchester store, in St John’s Walk, will close on Tuesday, October 3.

Closing dates for other Wilko stores in Essex have also been confirmed, with the Southend store also closing on the same day, while the Chelmsford store will close on October 5.

Retailer - the collapse of Wilko is coming to a close (Image: PA)

The Wilko brand will not disappear entirely from the UK high street after The Range agreed to buy Wilko’s brand, website, and intellectual property, with plans to sell the acquired brand in its stores.

Wilko was originally founded by James Kemsey Wilkinson in Leicester in 1930 and employed 12,500 workers before its collapse.

Resident Shell Pitchford said she felt sorry for the shop's staff.

"Let’s hope they are not out of work for too long as is hard to get jobs because so many people are looking," she wrote.

The closure of the remaining stores comes after the Clacton branch of Wilko closed its doors for the final time on Thursday.

Emotional goodbye - staff at Clacton's Wilko shop bid farewell to each other (Image: Counter Crime Partnership)

Colchester councillor and the Labour group's shadow cabinet member for local economy Sam McLean expressed disappointment over the circumstances surrounding the collapse of the business.

Administrators for the company at PwC said challenges in the sector compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic and tighter consumer budgets in the face of higher energy costs and mortgage rates contributed to “cashflow pressure and a deterioration in trading”.

Saddened - Colchester councillor Sam McLean outside Wilko, in St John's Walk (Image: Newsquest)

Mr McLean said: "In a matter of days the business will cease to exist and the real losers are the workers who will face financial uncertainty in the run-up to the holiday season.

"Many workers may lose from their pensions as the Government's Pension Protection Fund will only protect pensions up to 90 per cent for workers below retirement age."

Resident Meggie Moo, who used to work at the shop, shared her sadness at the news of the closure.

She said: "My first proper job as a teen close to 20 years ago.

"The staff are so amazing in there and some are still there since the day I left.

"I feel for all of them and I really hope they find themselves back on their feet real soon. Sad to see it go."

Business Minister Kevin Hollinrake told Parliament last week the Government is "very concerned by the families affected by Wilko’s demise".