The charity blamed National Insurance rises, reduced footfall and a growing competitive field online for the closures
The UK charity is closing seven West Midlands stores(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Cancer Research UK is shutting 88 of its shops by May, blaming rising costs – with seven in the West Midlands set for closure.
The towns and cities set to lose stores in the West Midlands region are: Birmingham, Dudley, Halesowen, West Bromwich, Ludlow, Market Drayton and Shrewsbury.
The charity stated that while retail had played a ‘critical’ role in its work and contributed £225million since 2015, National Insurance hikes, growing competition online and reduced footfall meant stores had to close, reports Express.co.uk.
READ MORE: Major update on Poundland store future after 57 branches close
Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp, click the link to join
It is reducing the size of its high street outlets to about 320 ‘high performing’ branches, closing 88 this year and up to 100 more by April 2027.
Twelve new out of town superstores are due to be opened in the next two years under the charity’s plans.
When the announcement was made in October, the charity’s Chief Exec, Michelle Mitchell, stated: “I am deeply grateful to our dedicated supporters, volunteers and staff for their role and contribution in beating cancer together.
“Without action, we predict many of our shops will become unprofitable,” said Michelle, continuing: “A smaller, high-performing retail operation will mean we will fund more life-saving cancer research and better serve our customers, staff and volunteers.
“This news will be difficult.
“Our decisions have been taken after serious consideration.
“We’re committed to supporting everyone affected by these changes, and will provide clear information and support throughout the process.”
The charity vowed to maintain a presence on the high street, adding its shops would remain a vital part of how it raises funds.
Which Cancer Research UK branches are closing?
Aberdeen, 19 Rosemount Viaduct, AB25 1NEAirdrie, 5 Bank Street, ML6 6AFBalham, 168 Balham High Road, SW12 9BWBallymena, 49 Ballymoney Street, BT43 6ANBanbury, 9 Parsons Street, OX16 5LWBarnstaple, Gammon Walk, EX31 1DJBelfast Bloomfield, 17 Bloomfield Avenue, BT4 1RXBiggleswade, 24 High Street, SG18 0JLBirkenhead, Borough Pavement, CH41 2XXBirmingham, 245 High Street, Erdington, B23 6SSBognor, 1-2 Clock Walk, P021 1SGBolton, 6 Newport Street, BL1 1NBBradford, 34-36 Ivegate, BD1 1SWBurton On Trent, 25 Station St, DE14 1AUChesham, 34 High Street, HP5 1EPClevedon, 1 Station Road, BS21 6NHClydebank, 23 Sylvania Way South, G81 2UACoatbridge, 20-22 Main Street, ML5 3AECotteridge, 20 Watford Road, Birmingham, B30 1JACrewe, 10 Market Street, CW1 2EGDerby, 826 Osmaston Road, Allenton, DE24 9AADewsbury, 22 Longcauseway, WF12 8ENDudley, 258 Castle Street, DY1 1LQEast Barnet, 276 East Barnet Road, EN4 8TDEdinburgh, 9-10 Ormiston Terrace, Corstorphine, EH12 7SJEpping, 197 High Street, CM16 4BLFakenham, 26 Market Place, NR21 9BSFalkirk, 18 Vicar Street, FK1 1JLGalashiels, 55 High Street, TD1 1RZGillingham, 90 High Street, ME7 1AXGlasgow, 420-424 Victoria Road, G42 8YZGosport, 98 High Street, PO12 1DSGravesend, 34 New Road, DA11 0ABHalesowen, 79 High Street, B63 3BQHarrogate, 24A Oxford Street, HG1 1PUHazel Grove, 129B-C London Road, Stockport, SK74HHHemel Hempstead, 101 Marlowes, HP1 1LFHigh Wycombe, 8 Church Street, HP11 2DEHornchurch, 8 Station Lane, RM12 6NJKeswick, 24 Main Street, CA12 5JDKings Lynn, 61 High Street, PE30 1AYLancaster, 54-54A Market Street, LA1 1HSLeeds, 28 L&S Lane, LS1 6LBLincoln, 254 High Street, E20 1QJLisburn, 4 Smithfield Square, BT28 1ADLouth, 20 Market Place, LN11 9PDLudlow, 3 Castle Street, SY8 1ASMaidenhead, 101 High Street, SL6 1JXMaidstone, 19 Gabriels Hill, ME15 6HRMarket Drayton, 27 High Street, TF9 1QFMelton Mowbray, 6 South Parade, LE13 0PUMerthyr Tydfil, 14 Graham Way, CF47 8BTMill Hill, 37 The Broadway, NW7 3DAMoreton, 242 Hoylake Road, CH46 6ADNewark, 26 Stodman Street, NG24 1AWNewcastle Under Lyme, 19 Ironmarket, ST5 1RFNorthwood, 38 Green Lane, HA6 2QBPaddock Wood, 5 Commercial Road, TN12 6ENPenrith, 10 Angel Lane, CA11 7BPPerth, 27 Scott Street, PH1 5TQRedditch, 4 Market Place, B98 8AARedruth, 71 Fore Street, TR15 2AFRetford, 25 Carolgate, DN22 6BZRoss On Wye, 11 Market Place, HR9 5NURotherham, 74 Effingham Street, S65 1ALRushden, 22 High Street, NN10 0PWSelby, 40A Gowthorpe, YO8 4ETSevenoaks, 137 High Street, TN13 1UXShrewsbury, 9 High Street, SY1 1SPSidmouth, 19 Fore Street, EX10 8ALSkipton, 91 Caroline Square, BD23 1DASlough, 8 Park Street, SL1 1PDSouthend On Sea, 5 Warrior House, Southchurch Road, SS1 2LZSt Ives, 6 High Street, TR26 1RRStalybridge, 44A Grosvenor Road, SK15 1RRStockport, 26 Princes Street, SK1 1SEStoke, 44 Devonport Road, Plymouth, PL3 4DHSwansea, 19 Union Street, SA1 3EHSwindon, 28 Havelock Street, SN1 1SDTiverton, 15 Bampton Street, EX16 6AAUrmston, 16 Station Road, M41 9JNWelling, 26C Bellegrove Road, DA16 3PUWelwyn Garden City, 20 Howardsgate, AL8 6BQWest Bromwich, 203 High Street, B70 7QZWhitby, 70 Baxtergate, YO21 1BLWick, 36 Bridge Street, KW1 4NGWigston, 6 Bell Street, LE18 1ADWorkington, 26-32 Murray Road, CA14 2AG
Source
