Barnstaple Topshop staying open?

No comment from owners or landlord as it is suggested retail fashion chain store in Green Lanes is now staying open.

THE owner of the Barnstaple branch of Topshop has so far refused to comment following online reports the store is now staying open.

The comments on social networking sites said yesterday (Thursday) that the Green Lanes Shopping Centre store would remain open.

The Gazette reported two weeks ago that staff at the store had been told it would close at the end of March.

The Arcadia Group, which owns the retail chain, told the Gazette it could not comment on the situation and referred our reporter to British Land, which owns the shopping centre, but also said it was unable to comment.

This morning (Friday) there was no comment from the store.

The Gazette understands from several sources that the two have been negotiating over the lease of the Green Lanes store. Posts on social networks now suggest this has been resolved.

The Arcadia Group is part of the empire of retail billionaire Sir Philip Green, who said in an interview last autumn that he expected some 250-260 stores to close within three years when their leases expired.