A FASHION store in Christchurch will close its doors next week leaving another retail unit empty in the town.

New Look in Saxon Square will close on Tuesday September 11 but the reasons for its closure have not been revealed by the company.

Traders in the town have voiced fears that the town centre is becoming swamped by coffee shops and food outlets.

It is not yet known if anyone else will move in to the shop.

Shoppers in the town said it was another blow to lose the popular national chain.

Pauline Greaves, who regularly visits the town from Downton, said: “It is a shame because there isn’t many more fashion shops in the town.

“There needs to be more to attract young people to come here.

“Christchurch has a lot of empty units now, which isn’t good.”

Another shopper said she it was terrible to lose New Look.

Jean Holmes, who lives in Christchurch, said: “It is disappointing to have all these shops closing. There is not a real range in the town anymore.

“It makes it look pretty miserable for holiday makers, which can’t be a good thing.

“I come to the town centre most days to have a coffee and do some shopping, but there is less and less to look at.”

Emma Boughton, 19, has visited Christchurch since she was very young and said there is not a lot on offer for younger people.

“There is not another clothes store like New Look in the town.

“In general there is not a lot for people my age.”

As reported by the Daily Echo, a planning application was submitted to change the use of the first floor of the New Look unit to operate a 24 hour gym.

Permission to operate the facility in the adjacent unit was approved last year.

Recently Mike Ismail, the director and owner of Baggies Coffee House in the High Street, launched a petition calling for the refusal of plans to open a branch of Coffee#1 at the former Shoe Zone store.

He voiced fears that visitor number will drop because of the reduced variety of shops.

He told the Daily Echo: “To have this many food businesses in a town of this size is a crazy situation.”

The boss of menswear store Edgar & Scott also spoke out about the state of the town when he closed the shop in July.

Tim Nokes told customers: “Due to the increasing costs and pressures of the high street I have reluctantly decided to close the shop and move onto other projects.

“I am incredibly sorry that the shop will no longer be here for you. I have been part of Christchurch High Street for 10 years in one form or another and have seen first-hand just how rewarding it can be to work in but also how it is in serious need of new ideas, greater support and more investment.”