A NEW store could open on a prime town centre site, it was revealed this week.
The Original Factory Shop (TOFS) has its sights set on the former Woolworths store on Blairgowrie’s Allan Street.
But ongoing problems with the building are proving a stumbling block to the project, which could bring as many as 30 new jobs to the town.
Colin Leggatt, TOFS’s marketing manager, said: “We’re hoping to open a store in Blairgowrie but at the moment there are some issues regarding the state the building is in at present.
“Usually we need between about seven or eight thousand square feet of floor space to trade in. There isn’t enough room at the moment so we’re looking at putting an extra floor in.
“Obviously this opens up a whole raft of issues such as planning and things like disability discrimination laws. It’s not just a case of knocking up a stairwell anymore.
“And we’ve discovered there’s a slight asbestos problem.
“Although this is to be expected when dealing with a building of this age and isn’t something to be running scared of, it’s likely to hold us up slightly.
“All this means that something we initially anticipated would take a few months to complete is now going to take around seven or eight instead.”
Mr Leggatt added that a number of applications have already been received from local residents looking to take up positions within the company, who already operate a store on Perth’s Crieff Road.
He said that a representative from The Original Factory Shop will contact them in due course to inform them of any delays.
Local councillor Bob Ellis said: “This is very good news for the town as it will fill a very large premises which is currently lying empty.
“It’s the kind of shop that will bring people back into Blairgowrie, as Woolworths once did, and I’ve heard that around 30 jobs may be created, which again is great news for locals.”
