Local newspapers have reported this afternoon that the Wyevale Crowland Garden Centre will close on April 28th.

The Spalding and South Holland Voice reports that up to 19 members of staff face the possibility of redundancy.

The 8.8 acre centre was listed for sale at a value of £200,000, leasehold, but a buyer has not been found.

A spokesperson for Wyevale Garden Centres told GTN Xtra this afternoon: "We have been considering the future of the centre for some time due to the impact on footfall and sales since the opening the A16 Bypass. Despite our best efforts we are now having to take the decision to close the centre. We will seek to redeploy as many of our talented and experienced colleagues as possible within other Garden Centres in order to minimise any compulsory redundancies"

The site also features a Maidenhead Aquatics concession.

After the closure of Crowland that will leave 96 centres still to be sold as Terra Firma continue with the "Sale of the Century" as they seek to close their third fund, TFCPIII.

There is much speculation about who will be buying any of the remaining centres and indeed if they will all remain as centres after this announcement about Crowland.  Rumours are that large groups and smaller independents appear to be in negotiation with agents Christie & Co.  However Wyevale Garden Centres are unable to confirm any ongoing negotiations at the moment, so watch this space.