Safeway's decision to close its Borehamwood store and axe the jobs of 130 staff is a blow to healthy competition for town families' grocery money -- as well as blow to the purses of local people who depended on the supermarket for employment.

Although initial fears that the post office will close have been quashed, the move will not make life easier for many, particularly elderly, people in west Borehamwood and Elstree this winter -- who will be forced to trek to Tesco if they want to enjoy supermarket shopping.

Boulevard 25 bosses are confident the empty until will be filled and there is no chance of "the old Safeway building" coming to have the same meaning in the town as "the old Tesco building", that is, a byword for dereliction.

That will be no comfort to staff or loyal customers -- but if the store was no longer viable, it is difficult to argue with the company's decision to close. Whoever occupies the site, it is hoped they can make a success where Safeway failed.

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