ICELAND has confirmed it will be shutting its store in Poole High Street for good next month.

A company spokesperson confirmed to the Daily Echo that the store would be closing permanently on September 18 but was unable to comment further at the current time.

The closure is another blow for the area's High Street and a concern to Andy Hadley, one of the ward councillors for Poole town centre.

He said: “It is a concern to lose one of the Poole town centre supermarkets, particularly for those without access to a car.

“Iceland also has stores on Canford Heath and Ashley Road, and we still have Sainsbury's and Asda in town, but the impacts of Covid-19, compounding the Brexit workforce and supply chain challenges, are worrying for the immediate and longer term future of shopping streets.”

Iceland's spokesperson was unable to confirm the reason behind the closure or how many jobs will be lost.

Councillor Mark Howell, who also represents the Poole Town ward, said it is part of a period of change for the area.

Cllr Howell said: “The business models of supermarkets have been changing significantly and I am not aware of any reasons for closure stated by Iceland.

“There remain three supermarkets within 500 metres of the High Street plus M&S. As more of Poole’s development sites are built out, the High Street should benefit from the custom of their residents.

“Like high streets up and down the country, Poole's High Street will go through a period of change, I expect it to be sustainable in the longer term.”

From September 18 the nearest Iceland branch will be in Parkstone, with stores also in Canford Heath, Bournemouth, Boscombe and Winton.

The news comes only a matter of days after popular clothing retailer H&M announced they would be shutting their store in Commercial Road, Bournemouth, also next month on September 12.

Read more: H&M in Commercial Road the latest store to close doors for good

It is not known how many jobs would be lost when the fashion store closes.