RETAIL BOOST
LURGAN'S economy has been given a boost with the arrival of a major sports retailer.
Sports Direct is opening a branch in Heatons store on Market Street this Tuesday and will create 12 new jobs.
The new branch is to take over half of the existing store offering big name sporting brands.
Sports Direct is one of Europe's fastest growing sports chains and Heatons holds the franchise for the whole of Ireland for the sports brand.
Heatons, which was established more than 60 years ago, is a major retailer and has been part of the town for more than a decade.
Sinn Fein councillor Johnny McGibbon said the opening of the franchise in Lurgan was welcome news.
He said: "It's good news that a major European franchise is coming to the town.
"This is a developing company which has taken a sizeable share of the market in sports goods and having it in Lurgan can act as a catalyst to draw customers from a wide area into the commercial heart of the town.
"Additional business for the town is to be welcomed and if this opportunity is appropriately marketed it will assist in drawing major international retail outlets to view Lurgan as a viable base.”
Mr McGibbon called on all sections of the community to play their part in ensuring that the possibilities opened up by the arrival of a Sports Direct in the town are not lost.
He added: "It's imperative that we all do everything in our power to maximise on this opportunity.
"All sections of our community must do their outmost to ensure that the proper social conditions exist for further commercial development. Successful business needs all the customers available to them and that requires a friendly non-oppressive town centre which is neutral and partisan free.”
Mayor, Alderman Stephen Moutray also welcomed the arrival of Sports Direct.
He said: "I am delighted that Sports Direct is coming to Lurgan.
"This will without doubt generate and assist in rebuilding the economy of the town and will give the customer more choice. This is the type of good news story that we want in Lurgan and what I would be keen to see replicated."
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Weather for Lurgan
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
