A BUSINESS owner in Barry is supporting staff at Wilko on Holton Road as they continue to be in the dark about the store's closure.

Earlier this month it was announced that all stores in Cardiff will close, but the store in Barry is safe from closure. 

However, shelves are nearly empty in the store on Holton Road and staff are still left without a closure date. 

Stewart Burnell, Owner of Awesome Wales, is supporting staff at risk of losing their jobs by handing out CV’s in the area.

Barry And District News: Stewart Burnell, owner of Awesome Wales supports Wilko staff at time of uncertainty Stewart Burnell, owner of Awesome Wales supports Wilko staff at time of uncertainty (Image: newsquest)

He said: “It will make or break the town whatever goes in its space.

"It needs to be something that will bring people back on Holton Road, especially with all the closures happening, this place needs to be a destination."

Mr Burnell wants to see more independent shops on Holton Road, but says maybe now is not the time.

“I believe independent shops are the way forward, but at the moment, with people's shopping habits, the big multiples like WH Smith, Wilkos and Primark bring people into the town.”

Mr Burnell said an independent business or an escape room for kids would be great for tourism and bring people back to Holton Road.

He added: “If the council could buy the building as they own the land already, they could maybe put a small indoor market or an escape room for the kids.

“It could be a massive destination both day and nighttime, which is what we need. We need something that will bring people in.”

Barry And District News: Shelves are almost bare, with little to no goods left Shelves are almost bare, with little to no goods left (Image: newsquest)

Mr Burnell is also keen to try and help the staff at risk of losing their jobs when the store closes next month.

He added: ”I feel sorry for the people that work in there, I go in there and speak to them to try and help as much as I can.

"I take CV’s off them to pass them on to people up here to see if they got jobs.

“There are 23 people in there that are going to lose their jobs. They got told three hours after the news went to press that they were going into administration.”

At the time of publication, there was no date announced for the closure of the Wilko, store on Holton Road.