Pendle Hill residents are fighting to keep their local supermarket in the heart of the community, after Woolworths revealed it would permanently close the store next month.
Woolworths has announced it will shut its much-loved Metro store on Pendle Way on March 7, with the supermarket giant confirming there are currently no plans to reopen a new store in the future.
“Our Pendle Hill Metro store will close on March 7 this year as it’s seen reduced foot traffic for a number of years,” a Woolworths Group spokesperson told Parra News.
“The store will continue to trade as normal, with team members beginning the process to be redeployed over the coming months.
“We’re thankful for the opportunity to serve the Pendle Hill community and hope to see locals at our neighbouring stores including Wentworthville and Toongabbie.”
News of the Metro’s imminent shut down has left many in the community outraged.
One Pendle Hill resident of over 30 years said the closure of the store would deeply impact the elderly, disabled and migrant communities, all of whom rely on having access to groceries in their local community.
“We will lose the only provider of a broad range of groceries, we will lose cash withdrawal facilities which are critical to the local economy, and we’re losing a diversity of retail mix,” they said.
“For 65 years, Pendle Hill has had a supermarket. Ironically, with the influx of more people, you would think that there’s a greater need for a supermarket and yet the large conglomerate has decided that it’s not worth their while to keep going.”
But the community isn’t giving up on having a local supermarket, as they call on one of the other major supermarkets to open up shop in Woolworths’ absence.
“The one that I keep hearing people say is Aldi. Aldi is the number one, but Coles or the IGA are perfect,” the long-term local added.
“The big four would be ideal because they’ve got a bigger range.”
Following the community backlash, Federal Member for Parramatta Andrew Charlton and State Member for Prospect Hugh McDermott both met with representatives from Woolworths to discuss keeping the store open, but the supermarket giant maintained its decision.
Charlton is now urging residents to sign his petition to help save the supermarket.
“There has been a supermarket on the corner in Pendle Hill for as long as anyone can remember,” the petition said.
“But now Woolworths are planning to close the store. With Woolworths gone, this could mean the nearest supermarket is a driving distance away.”
To find the petition, go to http://www.tinyurl.com/2uv2p3xa.
Ellie Busby is a news reporter for Western Sydney Publishing Group. A graduate of the University of Hertfordshire and Western Sydney University, she is a journalism Major. Ellie has worked with Universal Media, The Cova Project and for a range of other organisations. In 2024, Ellie was named Young Writer of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.