Lidl has been in Kentish Town Road since 2014

-COST store Lidl is quitting Kentish Town in a decision described as a hammer-blow for the high street.

The discount supermarket has told customers the shop on the main road will close for good in early February.

Shoppers say this is bad news for families who relied on its cheaper prices – and that Kentish Town Road will miss the footfall it attracts. Staff confirmed yesterday (Wednesday) the shop’s tills would fall silent on February 11 and said the decision was based on the shop’s customer base not being large enough to make enough profit.

Also, the lack of a delivery bay meant the store’s vehicles had to park on double yellow lines to unload. It follows the closure of the company’s Camden Town branch two years ago.

Caroline Hill, who chairs the civic group Kentish Town Road Action, said: “It is very sad. It is always rammed. Everyone shops there – it is a classless shop. Kentish Town Road is a big arterial through route so it does need double yellow lines and we can understand Lidl’s problems but it is a great pity. It may affect the footfall for other shops. We hope another store comes in quickly to take up the empty unit.”

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Sue Odell, who lives nearby, told the New Journal: “The news has come as a real shock for everyone – a new year hammer blow for the area. Posh people go there for essentials as well as people on a budget. And this is a disaster for people living here with no car and on lower incomes. Lidl has become something of a necessity for many.”

She added that with the tube station still closed for repairs until the summer and constant roadworks, the closure was another challenge for the high street’s many independent shops to tackle.

Regular shopper John Nicholson said: “If a business like Lidl cannot make a decent enough profit out of this store it’s hard to imagine who can. Since opening the store has been very popular and always busy with a really diverse range of local people attracted by its very keen prices compared to other supermarkets. It will be missed by lots of people including me.

“If a business like Lidl cannot make a decent enough profit out of this store it’s hard to imagine who can.”

Lidl was approached for comment but had not responded before the New Journal went to print.