Rotherham B&Q staff await closure decisions

STAFF in the three Rotherham branches of B&Q will have to wait and see if their stores are to be closed as part of the company’s cull of 60 outlets nationwide which was announced this week (March 31).

The company, owned by Kingfisher, has already revealed the closure of the Bleachcroft Way store in Barnsley, along with five others across the UK, but wants to close a total of 60 over the next two years,

The company has declined this week to confirm or deny to the Advertiser whether any Rotherham stores will go.

There are two B&Q supercentres in the Rotherham area at Parkgate and Wath.

Kingfisher plans to open 60 new outlets under its Screwfix brand this year and has said it hopes to transfer some staff from closed B&Q stores.

The parent firm has announced a 15.2 per cent fall in pre-tax profit to £644m for 2014.

The spokesperson said that the remaining 54 stores would close in a “tier process” over the next two years.