Saffron Walden Waitrose refurbishment faces month delay
The refurbishment of Saffron Walden Waitrose on Hill Street is to take a month longer than expected. - Credit: Archant
Shoppers face a further delay to the reopening of the town’s Waitrose store after it was announced the ongoing refurbishment would take a further month to be completed.
A spokesman for the Hill Street store said “routine” archaeological excavation was behind the delay.
“As a result of further archaeological work taking place on site, there will be a short delay to our opening - and we will now open in September, rather than August.
“We apologise to our customers and neighbours for this inconvenience.
“Archaeological digging is a routine part of any construction project and in this case, extra
time was needed to complete the excavation work, however
nothing was found.”
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Since the closure of the
main Waitrose and its 294-space Fairycroft Road car park in
January this year, a temporary store stocking essentials has been operating on the same site, as well as a free shuttle bus from Swan Meadow car park.
But businesses confirmed that the closure has adversely affected trade in the town.
Alice Reader of Ruby Room Lifestyle on High Street, just metres from the store, told the Reporter:
“It’s going to make a big difference to the town and businesses.
“We have suffered from the closure – every business has – and this just means we’ll have one more month of fewer customers.”
This Saturday, May 2, the temporary Waitrose store will close for seven days, reopening on for business on May 10.
The overall refurbishment of the store is to encompass an extra level in the car park, a larger in-store café, new toilets, new fresh food counters and an improved bakery and wine department.
