Wilko: Chippenham is final Wiltshire store to close for good

The Wilko shop on Chippenham High Street was the budget chain’s last remaining branch in the county and had originally been due to close on Friday, September 29.

But the store’s closure was changed to Thursday, September 28,and staff brought the shutters down for the final time at 3pm.

A notice was placed in the window announcing that the shop was permanently shut.

It read: “This store is now closed. The management and staff thank you for your custom.”

One staff member, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “We’re not really allowed to say much but we’re all gutted because we’ve been here a long time.”

The closed Wilko store on Chippenham High Street (Image: Newsquest)As the shutters were brought down on the High Street shop, some staff were visibly emotional and could be seen hugging and consoling each other.

By the time they closed nearly all the shelves had been cleared, with just a few items remaining.

One shopper, who regularly used the branch and had waited to watch its closure, spoke of her disappointment at Wilko’s collapse.

She said: “Wilko was so well known even people from other countries knew it for its discounts and for the kindness of the staff.

“I used to shop here regularly but I have no idea where I’ll go now, maybe B&M or Poundland but they don’t have the range that they used to have here.

“It’s such a sad thing, I think of what’s going to happen to the staff and I feel for them, it’s a waste because they must be going through a traumatic time now.”

The now closed Wilko store on Chippenham High Street (Image: Newsquest)In the moments after the store closed other disappointed shoppers and passers-by were shocked to realise the branch had already shut.

A number of people had to be turned away after arriving too late to visit one last time.

One woman added: “Wow I can’t believe it, I knew they were shutting but I didn’t realise it had happened.

“All those poor people who are losing their jobs.”

The Chippenham Wilko was the final store in Wiltshire to close after shops in Trowbridge, Devizes, and two in Swindon shut down earlier this month.

Residents in Devizes told this paper that the loss of the High Street chain marked a sad day for the town.

The closed Wilko store on Chippenham High Street (Image: Newsquest)This sadness was echoed by staff and shoppers at all of Wilko’s Wiltshire locations.

All 400 of the budget chain’s shops are due to close by early October.