Gloom as Saltash shop annouces it is pulling out

Martin's newsagents is the latest on the list of Fore Street shops in Saltash which have decided to cease trading.

The smaller branch of Martins is due to to close on September 12 after over a decade of business in Saltash.

It will be going the same way as Charlie Henwood's greengrocery, Stitch Craft and Saltash Cycles, who have all closed recently, with auctioneers Eric Distin having also contributed to the unease by relocating to smaller premises from his former showrooms. These, plus the former L-Cost minimarket, How Bazaar and Black Horse Agency, have joined several other Fore Street shops now vacant.

Manager of the double-fronted Martins shop Mike Ravenscroft said that the recorded music and video sales will probably transfer to their other Fore Street branch and hopes that the four staff can be relocated by the shop's owners, the TM Group. A spokeswoman for the Group said that it had been decided to close this branch of Martins because, of its 1400 stores nationwide, it is among the bottom 100 stores in terms of profitability.

'This store is not profitable,' she said, 'so we are reinvesting our money and effort in our other two Saltash branches.'

Town Mayor Mona Tomaszewska has said that she is 'devastated' by the news of the closure. 'I urge people to try their Saltash shops first before going to Plymouth or Liskeard.'