Jobs bonus as store opens in resort

Mayor of Scarborough Hazel Lynskey yesterday opened the new Dunelm Mill homewares store in the old MFI building on Seamer Road in the town.

The new venture is a ray of sunshine in Scarborough’s jobs gloom. As reported by the Yorkshire Post, the number claiming Jobseekers Allowance has doubled over the last two years as a result of the recession.

The opening takes the number of Dunelm Mill stores in the UK to 111 and will create 50 full- and part-time jobs for local people.

The new store will provide a curtains, blinds and accessories service where shoppers can choose from a range of fabrics, a cook shop and dining and utility area.

The Scarborough store will be open seven days a week and boasts free parking.

Bill and Jean Adderley founded Dunelm Mill in 1979 as a market stall business in Leicester selling ready-made curtains.

The first store was opened in 1984 and since then the business has developed into a successful nationwide chain of more than 100 stores with many more planned.

Chief executive Nick Wharton said: “ We are pleased to be able to create a number of local jobs and are confident Scarborough will play a big part in the continued success of the company.”

However, more than 1,500 jobs have been casualties of the collapse of local companies and national chains. These included St Nicholas Hotel (80 job losses), McCain (50), UPM Raflatac (75), Wards (106), Woolworth (60), Scarborough/Skipton Building Society (226), Polestar Greaves (190), AW Sinclair (93) and Europower (20).

The recession meant it was no longer possible to meet national targets to reduce numbers of people claiming key out of work benefits, councillors heard last year.