A MINI-SUPERMARKET has closed in Hadleigh town centre, just eight months after it opened.

Costcutter, in London Road, opened in the former Woolworths shop, which closed and remained empty for almost two years after the company went bankrupt in 2009.

Concerns have been raised that history could repeat itself, and the premises will stay empty if the council does not push ahead with £60million plans to revitalise Hadleigh town centre.

Owner Rukesh Patel, 24, who opened the shop with brother Jitan Patel, 27, said: “It was just not working out.

“Business has not been as good as we hoped.

“We thought it was a good area to start up, but the town centre is slowly but surely dying.

“It feels like the regeneration is just going to go on for years, if it does even happen – and we can’t wait around for that.”

Mr Patel added the new Morrisons, which opened in London Road in January, had not had an impact on his business.

Tory councillor Alf Partridge was disappointed to hear the news of the closure.

He said: “This is quite a shock to hear and comes at a very unfortunate time when we are trying our utmost to develop business in the area.

“It is a real blow for the town centre and shows just how much we need to get on with the regeneration.

“My only hope is someone will take up the premises quickly.”

The store was opened after councillors approved controversial plans for the shop to be able to sell alcohol from 7am until 10pm, seven days a week.

More than 200 angry residents signed a petition opposing the plans, fearing the opening would lead to antisocial behaviour.

Concerns had also been raised the area was being strangled by four supermarkets – Morrisons, Lidl, Iceland and Costcutter.

Norman Ladzrie, Conservative councillor for St James’s ward, said he hoped the closure would enable a business to open which was more suited to the character of the town.

Mr Ladzrie added: “To be quite honest, I think it was inevitable. It was a simple fact of having the wrong shop in the wrong place.

“I have mixed feelings about it. While it is sad to see a shop close in the high street, and the possibility of local residents losing employment, it also opens a door for a shop more suitable to the area, which people actually want to see.”