NEARLY 90 Woolworths staff in the borough are preparing for redundancy in nine days time.
It was been announced today (Thursday 18/12) that 206 stores would close on Saturday,December 27 including the Uxbridge and Ruislip High Street branches.
In total 63 people are employed at the Uxbridge High Street store, and 24 people at the Ruislip High Street store will lose their jobs.
The 18 members of staff at the Uxbridge Road store, Hayes, have been given a temporary reprieve, but are expected to be out of work by January 5 when the store closes.
Signs are up at the stores in Uxbridge and Ruislip counting down the days until closing.
One member of staff at the Uxbridge store said: "There are the people who work here during the day and people who come in the evening to do the work.
"The shop is open until Christmas Eve, will be closed on December 25 and then will re-open and close forever on the 27th.
"Any left over stock will be sent to other shops which are going to be able to stay open until January 5."
A customer who didn't want to be named said: " It's a focal point in Uxbridge, I was listening to the radio and someone said 'what do you go there for?', but if you have kids it's ideal.
"I know some of the staff on the tills and they're sad."
Meanwhile, at 10am this morning a group of youngsters were suspected of stealing chocolates from the Uxbridge High Street store.
A member of staff said: "It's a pity that they are trying to steal from us considering the situation we're in."
