HOT on the heels of news that Morrisons is planning to turn a South Croydon pub into a convenience store, the company has now revealed plans for a mini-supermarket in the town centre.
The company is still making no formal comment on its proposals for the Red Deer pub in Brighton Road.
But talking about its plans to convert the former Jessops camera shop in North End, a spokeswoman said: "We are excited to be bringing a Morrisons M local to North End and are pleased to be creating new permanent jobs for local people."
The local store is expected to employ between 15 and 20 people and will concentrate on selling fresh products, including coffee, baked goods and a salad bar.
The Bradford-based company has already applied to Croydon Council for a licence to sell alcohol between 6am and midnight but has not given any indication as yet when the store will be opened.
The North End store will be located only a few hundred yards from the Ship of Fools pub in London Road, West Croydon which Sainsbury's is planning to turn into one of its convenience stores.
Until now, Morrisons has had no presence in the borough but the proposals for the local stores follow the start of work at the end of last year on a major supermarket on the Fiveways Retail Park, off Purley Way.
That store, due to start trading in the middle of this year, will create about 300 full and part-time jobs.
The North End Jessops store is one of seven bought by Morrisons after the camera company went bust.
The proposals for the Red Deer have stirred up controversy in the area with Linda Arthur, secretary of the South Croydon Business Association, condemning the potential loss of an established pub.
This, she said, was unlike the case of the Swan and Sugar-Loaf where Tesco has taken over derelict premises.
Morrisons has submitted a planning application to the council but this simply seeks to confirm the pub's status as a drinking establishment.
Under planning law there is no need to seek formal planning permission for a change of use from a pub to a shop.
