SAINSBURY'S is to close its superstore at the Brunel Shopping Centre.

The firm announced yesterday the branch will shut in November after nearly half a century at the location.

It is not known how many staff work at the 48-year-old store but the company said it will do its best to redeploy workers elsewhere.

A statement from Sainsbury’s said: “We have updated colleagues on the difficult decision to close our Swindon superstore in November and we are doing everything we can to find alternative roles for those affected.

“Customers can continue to shop with us a short drive away at our Bridgemead and Stratton stores, as well as the new Tadpole Garden Village store, which opens this month.”

Shoppers in Swindon town centre were not surprised that the high street is losing another store.

Clive Stevens, from Kingshill, said: “I don’t use it that much but it’s disappointing that even more in the town centre is leaving.

“Looking round at everything else, it’s empty. I’m pretty certain they won’t fill it again.

“To be honest, I don’t come to the town centre very much because there’s nothing much in here anymore. Nothing drags you in.”

A similar sentiment was shared by Amanda Johnson who was shopping with her son.

She added: “I think a lot of places are closing in town.

"We don’t usually shop here, we’ll travel to Bristol. I’ve only used that Sainsbury’s once so I can see why it’s going.

“Other stores might follow, 100 per cent. All the stores seem to be closing around here.

“You’ve got to think that if you go shopping in Sainsbury’s, you can get the same thing in Iceland for half the price.

“You’ve also got the Tesco and Poundland, so they’ve got a lot of competition.”

Fellow shopper David Smith added: “Any major store leaving the town centre is a loss.

“A lot of older people rely on shops being that close but if it’s not here then where else can they go?”

But there might still be hope for the store.

Swindon Borough Councillor Dale Heenan, cabinet member in charge of the town centre, said he was trying to reverse the decision.

“The news about Sainsbury’s leaving is a blow. I’ve written to the CEO of Sainsbury’s asking them to reconsider because it’s a puzzling decision," he said.

“Covid reasons aside, Sainsbury’s only competitors are the M&S Foodhall opposite, a Tesco Metro store and Iceland.

“I’ve also asked the owners of the Brunel to find a way to keep the store open and if there’s anything the council can do it assist.

“The owner has exciting plans for the Brunel Centre and I only hope this means they’ll accelerate them to fill this gap.”

The site went through a multi-million revamp as recently as 2012 where it was shut for several weeks.

At the time, store manager Craig Hussey said: “Sainsbury’s is one of the biggest employers in the town and to have a store of this size in the town centre is a massive asset to the residents.”

The Brunel was approached for comment but chose not to comment.