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Admin
31 Jan 09, 11:51 AM
From South Wales Argus

25 jobs go as Newport garden centre closes
9:38am Friday 30th January 2009

A NEWPORT garden centre closed yesterday with the loss of 25 jobs.

Hurrans Garden Centre, which started out as a family-run business in 1909 in Gloucestershire and was due to celebrate its centenary this year, closed three of its stores yesterday including its Langstone branch which has been open for 32 years.

The firm has gone into administration with centres in Gloucestershire and the Vale of Glamorgan also closing.

The Oxfordshire and Worcestershire centres will remain open after gaining potential buyers.

Branch Manager at the Langstone centre, Robin Rycroft met administrators yesterday and said a stock check would now take place with auditors over the next few days.

The remaining items will be transferred to the two open stores.

Staff meanwhile, who should have been paid yesterday, will now have to wait for at least a further three weeks before they receive their wage.

Mr Rycroft, who moved to the branch one year ago after being headhunted from Cadbury Garden and Leisure in Congresbury, Bristol, said: ?It all happened very quickly.

?It?s a very sad day. I just feel really sad for all of the staff, some of whom have been here for 22 years.?

The family-run business of Hurrans was originally started up by Alfred Hurran in 1909 using three derelict greenhouses in Gloucester.

The first Hurrans garden centre was then opened in Churchdown, Gloucestershire in 1967.

Until the firm went into administration, Mr Hurran?s great grandsons Richard and James still oversaw operations from head office while their farther Arthur was Chairman of the company.

Admin
31 Jan 09, 12:20 PM
The big question is what's gonna happen to the land and there's a lot of it!
32

steve
31 Jan 09, 12:42 PM
The Big question ?

right now its not about land ( the hint is here )

25 jobs go as Newport garden centre closes


in the future - I agree the big question will be "what will happen to the site "

willy gilby
31 Jan 09, 1:08 PM
Sorry to see Hurrans closed but I think everyone realised it was being run down.Let us now hope that this site will be used for possible shops and a Post Office. Maybe even a country Pub. These are the things that Langstone needs.

Admin
31 Jan 09, 4:44 PM
Yes, very sorry to see Hurrnas close. We're not keen gardeners but we would buy whatever we needed from Hurrans. We also started a bit of a family tradition and always bought our Xmas tree from there. We also took kids to see santa there.

I guess the relatively recent car boot's were Robin's attempts to turn things around, good on him for trying. But sadly, another casualty of the recession that will be missed.

SallieM
01 Feb 09, 10:36 AM
:(

I am very sorry to see Hurrans close down. My grandfather used to take me there when I was a teenager to buy plants, as did my mother. I was a regular customer myself over the years, and I to used to buy my Xmas decorations from there. My 8 year old son also loved to go there for his weekly chocolate cake treat in the cafe. He is devasted it has closed, as I'm sure the other regular visitors from Langstone school will be. It will be very sadly missed and my sympathy goes to those who have lost their jobs.

Robin tried his best to save the business and his efforts to keep it afloat are much appreciated.

Let us just hope that the land will be used for something that the village needs. A small Waitrose would be great! Let us just hope that it is not used to build yet more houses.

Sallie Mogford
Vice Chair of Langstone Community Council

darney
02 Feb 09, 10:26 AM
I'm sorry Hurrans is no more, but it is hardly surprising, the whole place
as been run down for years. The merchandise was wonderful but stupidly over priced...

I heard a wild rumour that Waitrose are interested?

SallieM
02 Feb 09, 11:05 AM
I've also heard a rumour that Morrisons have looked at the site. There would be no way that delivery lorries could negotiate the entrance on Catash Road though. Even with double yellows there would not be an adquate turning circle or sight splay.

I suppose a new entrance/exit at the bottom end of the car park directly onto the A48 would work.

The site would be a great place to build a new village hall, but unfortunately we don't have any money!

Joycemarshallacademy
03 Feb 09, 5:47 PM
I've also heard a rumour that Morrisons have looked at the site. There would be no way that delivery lorries could negotiate the entrance on Catash Road though. Even with double yellows there would not be an adquate turning circle or sight splay.

I suppose a new entrance/exit at the bottom end of the car park directly onto the A48 would work.

The site would be a great place to build a new village hall, but unfortunately we don't have any money!

We're working closely with Shan Jones on ideas to raise funds. If anyone has any ideas let us know, and the Academy would be delighted to help. As Langstone residents, it is vital we all pull together to raise as much money as possible for this fantastic cause!

Alex Dawson
www.joycemarshallacademy.co.uk

steve
10 Aug 09, 4:24 PM
http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/gloucester/headlines/Garden-centre-site-reopen/article-1234976-detail/article.html

AN EMPTY garden centre is due to blossom back into life when it reopens next week. ( August 2009)

The former Hurrans garden centre in Churchdown,[GLOUCESTER] which closed in January, is due to reopen for trading within the next seven days.
The site has been taken over by Evergreen Nurseries, based nearby in Parton Road.

Staff plan to maintain the site as a garden centre and are busy filling shelves and tidying up the centre.

Bert Bishop, one of the owners of Evergreen Nurseries, said: "We are moving into the Hurrans site and should be able to reopen within a week.