Work to demolish an eyesore that was formerly a country goods store in Witney has been going on for a month and is nearly completed.

The former Countrywide store on Ducklington Lane is set to become a self-storage centre.

Newport-based Storage Giant obtained planning permission to convert the disused former shop to a self-storage centre with first floor office suites and external drive-up storage units in 2019.

It is proposed to employ 37 full-time and one part-time member of staff.

The former Countrywide store was part of an agricultural retailer that went out of business in 2018 and the property has sat empty for years.

Cotswold Journal:

An eviction was sought after travellers moved on to land at the closed store in January.

A spokesperson for Oxfordshire County Council said the council’s Gypsy and Traveller service, and its partnership agencies, were in contact with the landowner of the premises.

The council spokesperson said the landowner also sought advice on how to further defend the location to prevent any further incursion.

The spokesperson said: “It is a timely reminder to landowners and business properties that are at present unoccupied, to ensure that that their premises and car parks are secure against incursions.”

Simon Williams, managing director of Storage Giant, said: “Materials are a real issue at the moment so there may be some delay until we can place the relevant orders, but certainly we don’t want to delay and will move as fast as we can to complete the scheme.”

 

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