A SOUTHEND fashion retailer is set to close its High Street base and the staff made redundant, unless a last gasp change of premises can be agreed.

Select Fashion will close its site at 170 High Street on Saturday, with staff told last week that redundancies could follow for the team of seven.

Echo:

Yesterday a supervisor at the store told the Echo despite the sad news an area manager has stated that conversations are taking place to see if the shop could relocate to another High Street spot - in one of the units neighbouring Ann Summers but this is yet to be approved.

Staff were unable to confirm what is planned for the shop in the future.

The fashion retailer went into administration earlier this year and bosses have been looking to cut costs since.

It is the latest clothing retailer to close and leave the town centre.

Anne Jackson, 62, said: “All we ever hear about are our clothes shops closing. I liked Select, it always had lots of options and I always thought it was quite popular. You do hope they can find another site and don’t have to close because we really do have a real lack of options.

“I was always a big BHS fan, I know that closed a few years ago now but we are still feeling the impact.

“Then it was Topshop, last year I think, I never shopped there overly but my grandchildren did. People need to support our High Street.”

The fashion retailer plunged into administration in May this year, with 1,800 jobs being put at risk.

Major concerns have been raised over the future of the High Street, but leaders have insisted that the £150 million Marine Plaza and Seaway developments will bring floods of people to the town, and boost High Street.

Bailey Dice, 22, a supervisor at Select, said: “They initially told us that we would be closing completely on Saturday. But now they have said we may be relocating when it closes to the bottom of the town, next to Anne Summers. They have said they will let us know today. We are all hoping it is good news.”