SPECULATION is mounting in Cardigan that B&M Bargains is set to take over the B&Q store in Aberystwyth Road later this summer.

Back in the autumn, mayor of Cardigan, Cllr John Adams-Lewis expressed dismay over the news that the B&Q store was to close.

Cardigan’s B&Q, which replaced Focus DIY four years ago, was among nine Welsh stores listed for closure in September’s shock announcement.

In a statement, B&Q said the move was down to “the changing needs of customers and how they live and shop”.

A “bitterly disappointed” Cllr Adams-Lewis said: “What we are seeing are the knock-on effects of austerity handed down by the Westminster Government and filtering all the way out to small rural communities like ourselves.”

But now speculation is rife locally that B&M Bargains is poised to move in once B&Q closes its doors for the final time on Saturday, 28 May. The nearest B&M stores are currently in Aberystwyth and Carmarthen.

A source told the Cambrian News: “From what I understand, a number of B&Q employees have already been offered jobs at B&M’s planned new store in Cardigan.

“While nothing’s been made official yet, we’re expecting an announcement in the very near future - barring any last-minute hitch, of course.”

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