Trimley nursery to close

ONE of Trimley's best-known businesses is being forced to close down – after a big hike in rent.

Station Nurseries' premises has been taken over by a new landlord and its managers cannot afford the changes being put forward to the lease for the shop and land.

Pat Chenery, manager of the garden centre for the past seven years, said it would close on September 30.

"It is time to close but we're sorry we're letting the customers down because we have met some smashing people and it is not just Trimley people," said Mrs Chenery, of Cordy's Lane, Trimley St Mary.

She said Station Nurseries regularly had customers come from as far as Ipswich, Harwich and Colchester to buy their bedding plants and shrubs.

"We would like to thank all the customers for all their support but due to circumstances beyond our control we would like to call it a day," she added.

Mrs Chenery had to make the decision to close after a new landlord took over the land and buildings which she rents. She said that the rent has gone up so that she now has to pay £900 in rent and rates a month and can not sustain the high running costs any longer, although there has not been a drop in sales.

"We love being here but we were ever so disappointed when we had to make the decision, but we're trying to look positively and look ahead," said Mrs Chenery

"We have met so many nice people we have really enjoyed it. The customers have been brilliant," she said.

Mrs Chenery, and her 59-year-old husband, who is a dock worker, used to travel to Wisbech, in north Cambridgeshire, to find the cheapest deals for their customers.

Mrs Chenery said she would have some time off when the bell tolls for the nursery on September 30.

The 52-year-old will lose her job along with two part-time workers.

Station Nurseries are having a stock clearance sale before they close next month and the current landowner is advertising the land for rent as a garden centre or other business.