SEVERAL shops on Eagles Meadow are set to close in the coming days despite previous comments saying the opposite.

In recent weeks Greggs, Starbucks, Topshop, Burton and Dorothy Perkins have all put up signs in their windows suggesting their closure is imminent.

Earlier in the year Eagles Meadow manager Kevin Critchley quashed rumours of stores leaving the shopping centre, saying: "Everybody has been saying that shops are going to leave Eagle's Meadow for the last ten years. No shops have given any notice to leave. I haven't even heard anything from Poundworld and they're in administration. It's a bit weird and I wouldn't pay any attention to any rumours."

The Leader:

Starbucks is among the stores leaving Wrexham's Eagles Meadow

Store closures will naturally lead to thoughts of business rates being too high, but business rates in Eagles Meadow have actually fallen in recent years.

"Business rates have come down quite nicely actually." said Mr Critchley.

"When the centre opened at the back end of 2008 rates were at a high level but on reevaluation last year the vast majority of units got a reduction - only three got an increase.

The Leader:

Burtons are among the stors to have signs in their windows telling customers of its imminent closure

"The rates are not lower than the high street, they've just come down from the phenomenally high level of before.

"There's nothing secret about it, all the business rates can be found in the public domain so people can see for themselves. We're happy that a lot of our retailers have had a reduction."

For reference the most expensive unit on Eagle's Meadow is Marks and Spencer, who saw their rates raise from £367,500 to £510,000 per year compared to Primark on Regent Street who currently pay £132,000 per year.

Referring to the matter of the upcoming closure, a spokesperson from Starbucks said: "We can confirm that the Starbucks store at Eagles Meadow Shopping Centre in Wrexham will be closing this Sunday, September 9.

"We would like to thank our customers for their loyalty over the years, and are holding a closing party on Sunday which everyone in the community is welcome to join."