THE decision by Oxfam to close its charity shop in Swindon’s town centre is an immense shame.

It brings to an end the best part of half a century of continuous trading to raise funds for some of the world’s neediest people.

Some years ago, as many Swindon Advertiser readers will recall, the charity also had a specialist book and record shop which it closed, saying that keeping it open wasn’t a financially viable option.

Now the same fate is to befall the remaining outlet for much the same reason.

The charity cites increased overheads, rent and other costs, and there is no reason to doubt its word.

Charity shops, as most people realise, do not exist to turn a profit. Rather, they exist to turn a surplus for whatever cause the charity serves. When the surplus is severely compromised, the shop risks becoming a drain on resources which would otherwise being earmarked for that cause.

The town centre, like many other shopping centres across the Swindon area and the rest of the country, has a number of unoccupied shop premises.

It is galling to say the least that, in spite of this state of affairs, business rates, rent and suchlike cannot somehow be adjusted to allow charities to remain. If businesses were clamouring to take over the empty properties, pay full rent and rates and contribute hugely to local revenues, it would be a different matter.

The shoppers of Swindon would far rather see a charity shop than an empty shop.