Trader forced to close shop warns '˜Rasen is dying'

Three generations of the Jacques have been involved in the business EMN-160809-121917001

The owner of a well-established Market Rasen shop closing over a lack of footfall has warned the town is '˜dying' and has no future.

Family-owned Jacques Home Hardware in George Street has been in the town for 14 years - but last week started a closing down sale, with the store set to shut as soon as the majority of stock has gone.

Co-owner Robert Jacques said: “The town is dying, the footfall is falling all the time.

“You’ve got to think ‘do I want to be here with not very much to do?’ The answer is no.

“Car parking charges are about to be implemented - that’s going to affect the town even more.

“I don’t see Market Rasen has a future.

“You only have to look at the empty [shop] spaces.”

Mr Jacques said he was ‘sad’ to be closing but ‘relieved’ and ‘glad’ at the same time.

He added: “I was hoping it would last a little bit longer, but you can’t just keep burying your head in the sand.”