Building to reopen (From Free Press Series)

Building to reopen

THE new owners of the former Hypervalue store in Pontypool town centre have said they are due to start work on the building within weeks.

The Free Press revealed at the end of March that the discount chain had completed and exchanged contracts on the building for an undisclosed amount.

Bristol-based furniture company Bed Makers bought the art dcor building and were determined to set up shop in the run-down store, "as soon as possible."

At the time a spokesman for Bed Maker Mohammed Ramzan said: "It should also be a good thing for Pontypool that the building isn't empty any more. We are currently looking for a contractor to work with as there is quite a lot of work to be done on the building."

This week Mr Ramzan said they were due to start work on the building within weeks. He also denied rumours that the furniture company was planning to sell up.

He said: "We are not selling up, in fact we are starting to get ready for opening and hope to be ready in about five or six months time."

Bed Maker are currently evaluating estimates from various contractors before deciding on a builder and starting work.

Mr Ramzan said: "The building has been empty for quite a long time now, so we know that there will be a lot of work to do. My partner has been down to visit the town and the building, so we know how much work is entailed. We don't expect to be able to open until the end of the summer at the earliest."

Bed Maker have four stores in Bristol and one in Newport as well as one which is due to open soon in Tonypandy.