SHOPPERS have voiced their dismay at the news that Bournemouth’s last department store is to close.

House of Fraser, whose history in the town goes back 151 years, is expected to shut in March.

The boss of Beales in Poole says some of the brands selling their goods in House of Fraser want to open in his store.

Tony Brown, chief executive of Beales owner New Start 2020, said: “We have had a number of concessions currently in House of Fraser requesting space in our Poole store and are in active discussions with them.”

A new owner of the House of Fraser building is thought to have other plans for the half-acre site.

Its imminent closure has sparked calls form the Bournemouth Town Centre Business Improvement District (BID) for BCP Council to rethink parking policies. The BID also wants the government to tackle “crippling” business rates.

In Bournemouth yesterday, shopper Doreen Law, 70, from Poole, said: “They’re all closing. I think it’s disgusting.

“The council needs to do the town up a bit and make it more presentable.”

Lee Edwards said: “It’s a disappearing high street.

“It’s an absolute tragedy but it’s happening all over the country. You can’t reverse it, the damage is done.

“The only way you can possibly begin to address it is to drop the rent and business taxes hugely and make it possible for businesses to survive.”

Polly Pesci, 22, said: “There are a lot more shops shutting and it’s annoying, I didn’t expect it.

“I’ll still come to the town centre while there’s Primark and TK Maxx.”

Oliwia Swiercz said: “I could still socialise in town and go for tea and to the park and beach but if I’m going shopping I’m much more likely to go to Poole now.”

Dom Griffiths from Wimborne said: “There’s hardly anything left in the town centre anymore, I never really come to Bournemouth anymore.”

Barbara Bird said: “I see these places closing and of course I feel sorry for the staff but I think it’s a golden opportunity to do something not piecemeal but to do something in a uniform manor, with a coherent plan and have coherent signage to bring back Bournemouth Spa in a modern way.” 

Bournemouth’s House of Fraser began life as Bright’s in 1871 and was known as Dingles for many years.

It was previously threatened with closure in 2018 before House of Fraser was bought out of administration by Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct business.

The town lost Beales in 2020 and Debenhams last year.