Following the announcement made at the end of April that 106 Dixons stores
will close with a loss of over 1,000 staff, Michael Fabricant wrote to the
Chief Executive of the Dixons Group plc enquiring what would be the future
of the Lichfield branch. He has now received a reply in which Mr John Clare
says that Dixons in Lichfield is safe for the time being, but he can make no
long term commitment.

"I can confirm that Lichfield is not currently on our store closure list and
that we do intend to carry on trading in the city" says John Clare. But he
went on to say to Michael Fabricant "I can, however, make no firm pledges
about the long term. We believe that Dixons will eventually become a chain
of fewer, but larger, stores. These will be located where available
locations at the right price can be found over time".

Michael Fabricant now says: "This is good news for the time being.
Lichfield needs a wide variety of shopping and at present we do not enjoy
the range of shops available in some other towns. With an expanding
population, I am pleased that Safeways will remain open, albeit rebranded as
Morrisons, and that a major new very up-market supermarket plans to open in
the City. But we do need a larger variety of shops particularly in men’s
and women’s clothing and other national retail chains to move into the City.
I know that the District Council is actively investigating the possibilities
both in Lichfield and in Burntwood".