Sainsbury's forced to close temporarily on Saturday after fire (From Witney Gazette)

Sainsbury's forced to close temporarily on Saturday after fire

2:25pm Friday 15th September 2006 in Witney By Maddy Biddulph

THE new-look Sainsbury's in Witney was forced to close temporarily on Saturday, September 9, after an electrical fire, which broke out in the early hours.

Night staff working at the supermarket - which reopened on Thursday, September 7, after almost doubling in size - had to be evacuated following the blaze in the plant room at about 3.20am.

No one had been injured, but the shop in Witan Way had been closed on Saturday until noon, because the fire had affected the power supply, said Heather Smith, store manager's clerk.

Staff had been waiting at the store's roundabout on Saturday morning to tell customers what had happened and hand out discount vouchers, she added.

Mrs Smith said: "This obviously affected trade on that day, but there has been a phenomenal response to our new store from our customers, and current feedback from them is how good it is."

A spokesman for Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, which is run by the county council, said: "The fire was out on arrival, but we used a thermal-imaging camera to check that it hadn't spread."

Managers were given the go-ahead last July to extend the supermarket by 15,500sq ft.

The store has created 75 extra jobs, and includes a cafe, clothing department, and electrical goods aisle.

West Oxfordshire district councillors approved plans for the expansion on condition that only 15 per cent of the total floorspace was used for non-food items, after concerns were raised about the impact it could have on stores in the town centre.

Sainsbury's also had to give a £485,000 contribution towards road improvements in the town.

Planning permission was granted following the unveiling of plans by supermarket giant Asda for a store.