William Hill betting shops in Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge won’t be among 700 of the company’s shops shutting down across the UK this year, it has been confirmed this week.
The betting company announced earlier this summer that hundreds of its shops are to close, putting 4,500 jobs at risk, following the government’s decision in April to reduce the maximum stake on fixed-odds betting terminals to £2 which has hit its revenue.
There were concerns among staff members employed at Burnham and Highbridge’s shops that they could close.
However, staff at the two William Hill shops in Victoria Street, Burnham-On-Sea and Market Street, Highbridge have this week confirmed to Burnham-On-Sea.com that neither store will be closing. “It’s a huge relief,” said one staff member.
William Hill, which has 2,300 shops and 12,500 employees, says the closures of other shops could begin before the end of the year.
“The group will look to apply voluntary redundancy and redeployment measures extensively and will be providing support to all colleagues throughout the process,” says a spokesman.
Burnham-On-Sea’s William Hill branch has a competitor, BetFred in College Street, while the Highbridge shop has no rivals in the town.
Pictured: Top, the Burnham store of William Hill and, above, the Highbridge shop
