ANOTHER big name store is set to close in Boscombe today – a week before Argos shuts its doors.

Robert Dyas, in the Sovereign Centre, is due to close down today.

The company has not responded to the Daily Echo’s requests for a comment as to why the branch is closing.

It comes a week before the final day of trading for the Argos store in Christchurch Road, which, as reported in the Echo, closes next Friday after 38 years, after the high street giant decided not to renew its lease.

Shoppers fear the area is declining as big names pull out – TJ Hughes left a huge unit vacant when it closed in August 2011.

Jill Fletcher, from Boscombe, said: “I think it’s probably because people who own the properties are charging too much rent.

“They’re not going to make any money if the properties are empty.

“People come here on Thursday and Saturday because there’s the market, but they’re not going to do that if there’s somewhere else to go.”

Lyn Hagen, from Boscombe, added: “It’s such a shame and the general feeling is the rents are very high in the centre of Boscombe especially.

“Why don’t they put the rents down, fill the shops up and get people in? Otherwise they will go to Castlepoint or into town.

“Robert Dyas is a very good shop and it’s a shame to lose Argos. It’s more convenient than going to Castlepoint.”

Mary Lock, from Southbourne, said: “It’s appalling that everything’s closing down and things are boarded up. It’s not very nice and it used to be so beautiful. I thought they were going to reinvest some money but what’s happened? I think it all looks a bit plastic. It needs to look a bit more upmarket in design and they need to lower the rents if they’re too high.”

Steven Pragnell, from Boscombe, added: “I’m really surprised to hear that Argos and Robert Dyas are closing.

“Argos is always fairly busy when I go down there.

“It’s a shame. I can’t understand why.”

Melanie Smith, from Boscombe, said: “There are a few shops closing but the main ones that I go in like Boots and the pound shop are all here.”

What shoppers had to say about the closure

TRISH Savage, from Springbourne, said: “I think we could do with something similar to TJ Hughes. It used to be the Co-Op and did a similar thing. TJ Hughes was a good shop and I think a lot of people miss it.”

CAROL Turton, from Boscombe, said: “I miss TJ Hughes.

“It was easy to shop in there and it was for older people and young people, it was mixed.

“It would be good to see the same sort of things in there.”

LISA May, from Boscombe, said: “People said there was a Tesco Express coming.

“It could be anything – it doesn’t have to be a shop. It could be something for kids perhaps. It could be somewhere for them to play.”

GRAHAM Hustings, from King’s Park, said: “Another food shop that could compete with Sainsbury’s would be good.

Asda would be good in there as it’s cheap. It’s a pretty good mix here in all though.”