The smallest garden centre in the Dobbies chain, Dalgety Bay near Dunfermline, is to close in February as the group boosts its focus on destination retailing.

CEO Graeme Jenkins said the closure, which will leave the group with 68 sites, was in line with the company’s strategic plan. “Our focus remains growing the business through destination garden centres,” he added.

The centre, which has traded for more than 25 years, employs 27 staff, one of whom told the local press that the closure announcement had “come out of the blue”.

The company it was consulting with staff so could not comment on potential redundancies.

A few months ago Dobbies lodged a planning application with Fife Council detailing ambitious expansion proposals for its store in Dunfermline. “Our store in Dunfermline, which is only four miles away, is considered one of our larger centres, where customers can enjoy a wide range of products and services” said a spokesman.

A planning application for a drive-thru Costa Coffee outlet on land adjacent to the garden centre has been approved.

Pictured:  Dalgety Bay centre manager Andy Macdonald, one of 27 staff in consultation with Dobbies.