FEARS over job losses have been raised after a garden centre was put up for sale.
Wyevale Garden Centre, in Eastwood Road, Rayleigh, has been listed for sale at £200,000 on property website Rightmove.
Residents have raised serious concerns over the impact of the plan on the town.
The site has been advertised by estate agents Christie and Co, which has been drafted in by the garden centre owners to deal with the sale of a number of sites across the UK.
Residents said they fear it will be a major loss to the community.
Lee Wright, 50, from Rayleigh said: “I have used this centre for years and always thought it was great.
“It’s a shame to see it is closing down and could be sold off.
“I guess this is just a sign of the times, that shops and centres like this are struggling so much.
“I hope this doesn’t mean too many job loses for the area.”
The advert states: “A high-quality portfolio of 145 garden centres to be sold individually, as sub groups or as a portfolio.
“Ranging in profile from horticultural centres to major leisure destination venues.
“Opportunity for a wide range of buyers to buy well-invested local garden centres within the price range of £200,000 to £35m.”
“The deadline for offers was on Tuesday June 26.
“Consideration of any offers past this deadline is at our client’s discretion.”
The Rightmove advert describes the sale of the Rayleigh site as leasehold.
It measures 3.24 acres and has car parking spaces for 100 cars.
The news comes after Wyevale confirmed it has sold another six of its centres as part of an ongoing scheme to trim down its estate, in February.
Christie and Co was contacted for comment but did not respond before the Echo went to press.
A Wyevale spokesman said: “All centres are part of an ongoing sales process.
“We do not comment on the specifics of any centre.
“Whilst this is ongoing we continue to trade and as part of this, the Rayleigh garden centre is open as usual.”
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