THE owner of a well-known Oxford retailer is closing branches and pulling out of the business, blaming high rates and competition from supermarkets.

John Hudson, who runs Clovers electrical and homeware stores, will shut the Kidlington and Botley branches this week.

He had already shut down sites in Headington, Wantage and Banbury earlier this year. In all, 11 staff have been made redundant.

Mr Hudson said: “The rents and rates are too high in the current economic climate.

“The supermarkets are expanding all the time and now have electrical goods departments, so people don’t have to go anywhere else.

“In three years time there won’t be any shops left.”

He said the landlord of the Botley shop, Vale of White Horse District Council, was demanding £25,000 a year rent – up from £16,000 five years ago. He also had to pay £7,000 in business rates.

Mr Hudson claimed the council was still demanding £25,000 for the next door unit, despite it being empty for four-and-a-half years.

Vale council leader Matthew Barber said: “While support for the local economy remains central to the Vale’s work, we are unable to reduce rents for individual premises.

“We have a wider duty to taxpayers to ensure a good return on their investment. The council does not have any powers over the levels of business rates.”

He said there had been a number of inquiries for the vacant shop next door.

The Kidlington store has a private landlord and the rent is £12,500-a-year.

The only Clovers store that will now remain open is on the A4074 at Berinsfield, after Mr Hudson sold it to a member of staff in March.

Mr Hudson said the business was profitable until about two years ago, but the situation had changed in the past 18 months and this year had lost £70,000.

Clovers was set up in Headington by Colin Carter 30 years ago.

Former market trader Mr Hudson took it on 12 years ago and expanded it across Oxfordshire.

Graham Jones of Oxford traders’ pressure group Rox, said he was surprised by the closure of the Clovers stores, and would be raising the issue of the challenges facing independent traders with the city and county councils.

Last year, independent Oxford hardware retailers Gill & Co, off the High Street, and Broughton’s in North Parade, also closed.