Britain's biggest charity shop for Burnley's former Woolworths shop (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Britain's biggest charity shop for Burnley's former Woolworths shop

11:42am Thursday 11th June 2009 in

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A HUGE retail unit left empty after the demise of Woolworths is set to be filled by Britain’s biggest charity shop.

The former store, in the Charter Walk shopping centre in Burnley, will be filled by a YMCA superstore specialising in furniture, electrical goods and clothing.

And the move by the charity for young people and the homeless has been backed by traders, shoppers, and a senior councillor in the town.

Paul Freethy, YMCA’s retail manager, said the 16,000square feet shop would be open by the end of the month.

He said: “This is a fantastically exciting opportunity for us to return to Burnley in spectacular fashion.

“I have overheard lots of comments question-ing how we are going to fill a shop this size, but rest assured that will not be a problem.

“We have some major plans for opening day to be revealed in the next ten days or so but, safe to say, it will appeal to the majority of the town.”

The former Woolw-orths unit, one of the largest in Burnley, has been empty for almost six months after the famous chain went into administration.

Since then, it has been used for public artworks while bosses at Charter Walk attempted to find a new tenant.

Coun Roger Frost, Burnley Council’s exec-utive member for plann-ing, said: “It is great that the unit is going to be occupied.

"It is right in the middle of town and in a very prominent position.

“People remember that Marks and Spencer sta-ted in Leeds and now people could know Burnley as the place where the charity superstore started.”

Burnley Chamber of Trade president George Heys added: “It is good that the unit has been taken, but I would imagine it is only a short-term measure.”

Meanwhile, the move by YMCA was also welcomed by two town centre shoppers.

Irene Hargreaves, who lives off Colne Road, said: “I think it’s good to see the building being brought back into use, especially for a good cause – that’s the most important thing.”

And Anne Marie Lye, who lives in Stoneyholme, added: “I’m happy with it. The YMCA is a really good cause.”