Toy store adds to toll on Broadway

12:00pm Tuesday 28th August 2007

THE owners of a well-known Didcot toy shop have been forced to put up the shutters for the final time.

Dentons closed for the first time in March, but was bought back by previous owners, the Holland family, and turned into a toy and bike store, with a nursery and pram department, in May.

But after just two months of trading, the store has again been forced to close and owner Gareth Holland said the Orchard Centre shopping precinct was to blame.

He believes it is keeping customers away from the Broadway.

He said: "Didcot clearly didn't need this shop because no one came in. I think it is all very sad.

"The whole way Didcot has been developed, there is no place for any retail along the Broadway, and Dentons is a victim of this. For the people of Didcot to not support us and let us down is very sad. The choice in that shop was infinitely superior to anything else in Didcot and the people were not willing to walk 400 yards up the road to support us."

Mr Holland said his aim earlier this year was to make the store a "destination shop", so people would make the effort to walk up the Broadway.

The Holland family, which also owns the Oxford Pram Centre, in St Clements, Oxford, also sold Dentons at Bicester earlier this year.

Jeanette Howse, of Didcot Chamber of Commerce, said: "I don't think they are a victim of the Orchard Centre development, I think they are victims of a change in shopping, as most of the high street shops are. It is a great loss to lose Dentons. It's always a shame to lose another retail outlet. I think if they've got what the customers want, then people will go up there."

Angie Major, president of Didcot Chamber of Commerce, said: "I think it's a shame for Didcot that it has closed.

"But I think the Orchard Centre is still good for Didcot and the new cinema is a fantastic opportunity for the town. It is going to bring a new lease of life. I don't know about the other shops up that way because they are not members."

Caroline White, of Print Express in the Broadway, said: "We are all sorry to see the closure of Dentons, but how could they compete with big national chains like Woolworths and Argos.

"Let's hope it can reopen and bring some much-needed trade back up the Broadway."

Emma Barry, Orchard Centre manager, said: "It is always sad when a local store ceases to trade. I have a very positive approach to the Orchard Centre and as I speak with the members of the public and shop owners, I am given a very positive view for trading.

"Footfall has increased because we now have a walk-through area between the Orchard Centre and the Market Square, which links us with a direct route to the Broadway shops.

"Both the Broadway and Orchard Centre stores bring a very positive approach to shopping for the local community and the people that travel to shop here."

Di Chesterman, development manager for the Didcot First group, said: "Having spoken to several traders, it is obvious that business is generally doing well on the Broadway.

"The Orchard Centre is proving to be a draw for local shoppers and with increased access between the centre and the Market Place, the public are more inclined to travel further up the Broadway.

"Naturally, we are saddened to hear that Dentons has decided to cease trading and we're sure many children will share this sadness."

Several shops have closed on the Broadway since the Orchard Centre opened in 2005.