THE future of an old Woolworths store is still up in the air with the council seemingly bogged down in negotiations with a potential buyer.

Epping Forest District Council had suggested back in September that a new client for the former Woolworths branch, in The Broadway, Loughton, would soon be forthcoming.

No news has been heard since with traders in the dark over when one of their biggest outlets will finally be filled.

Debden Traders Association chairman Peter Sparks said: “I've heard a few rumours but nothing as yet has come about. All the other Woolworths around seem to have been taken. Maybe there were complications with the lease.

“We do need to have a store. It affects everyone because you have got to have a big draw like Woolworths, and it's important not to have empty shops. It's a disappointment but we'll have to see what happens.”

Beryl Sullivan, who owns The Party Shop, in The Broadway, said: “It would be very good to get someone in. I thought they had but you hear a lot of rumours. I don't know why it's vacant, possibly they want too much for it. A lot of people have gone away now because the lack of parking has really affected here.”

Epping Forest District Council is set to comment on the current stage of negotiations tomorrow morning (Wednesday).

Chairman of Loughton Broadway Town Centre Partnership Dave Stannard said: “I heard they were asking an outlet about the rent. Everyone's currently waiting. We want to get a proper person in there. The longer it stays empty the worse for The Broadway.”

A spokeswoman for the district council said: "The council had this property on long let to a company - Woolworths were not direct tenants. It is that company who has lost Woolworths as a tenant. They have another retailer who wants to take on the shop and this is with our legal department at the moment."