ROCHFORD councillors are expecting the opening of a new pound shop in Rayleigh to benefit the town centre.

Poundstretcher is opening a new store in Eastwood Road, off Rayleigh High Street, but residents are concerned it could have an adverse impact on the town’s M&S food store.

Ian Ward, portfolio holder for planning in Rochford Council, is positive about the new store, which he says will offer something new to the town centre and that it had always been in the town’s plans.

He said: “That shop was always going to be there, M&S had the opportunity to take up the whole store but they did not take it, so I do not think the Poundstretcher will have any negative effect on the store.

“I can see that more people will discover where the M&S store is and they will visit the Poundstretcher for different things that they want.”

Mr Ward says that it is being fitted and ready for its opening which is expected to be before the end of the month.

Bob Milne, councillor for the Lodge ward, believes that the opening of the new store will also help give visitor numbers in Rayleigh a boost.

He said: “If it increases visitor numbers in Rayleigh, it will hopefully help smaller businesses to keep growing. “A pound shop opened up in the Weir a year or so ago and you could not get into the car park when it first opened.”

Despite his anticipation, Mr Milne was unsure of how residents will be able to enter the store when it does open.

He said: “As I understood it, you would have to go down to the walkway in Eastwood Road to get into the shop.

“I was wondering ‘where are they going to put it’?”

But he believes the new store can only benefit the town.