Town centre Poundland seized over ‘long standing’ debt to Bolton Council

Confused passersby noticed that the Poundland on Victoria Square just opposite town hall was shuttered as of the afternoon of Wednesday January 7.

Notices had been put over the door and town hall has now confirmed that the premises has been seized.

A Bolton Council spokesperson said: “As landlords, the council has had no choice but to act in order to retrieve the longstanding amount due on a property that is, ultimately, owned by Bolton council taxpayers.

“The tenant operates successfully from a number of premises across the UK and we are confident that the non-payment is due to an administrative oversight.

Notices were left outside the store (Image: Newsquest)

“We aim to resolve the matter as quickly as possible.”

A notice left on the door of the shuttered building said that the premises had been seized by the landlord, in this case Bolton Council.

The notice said no unauthorised people are allowed entre without the consent or knowledge of the debt clearway squad or the landlord or management agent.

Bolton Council owns the former Crompton Place shopping centre site, with demolition works expected to begin later in 2026.

Notices were in place on Wednesday afternoon (Image: Newsquest)

A further notice gave further details as to where the goods inside where being kept while the store itself was still under the seizure order.

The authority envisages that the site will eventually be used for the construction of a “mixed use development” including flats, restaurants and other businesses.

The same Poundland branch has already been seized before in December 2024, again due to action over what the council says was unpaid rent.

Poundland has been seized by Bolton Council (Image: Newsquest)

Back in 2024 the company said it had recently made a substantial rent payment and believed that its rental account would soon be in credit.

This was just months after another branch of the budget retailer on Deansgate closed on October 17, 2024 having been unable to secure and agreement with its landlord.

The Deansgate Poundland had opened at the site occupied by Wilko until the company’s nationwide collapse.

Poundland has been approached for comment.

Source – INDIA TV