Flagship Asda to try 24-hour opening

A Black Country town's new flagship Asda superstore will be open for 24 hours, it has been announced.

Bosses say that the supermarket will open round the clock on weekdays and for six hours on Sundays.

The store, being built as part of a £30 million pound town centre revamp, will trial 24 hour trading. Allison Darling, Asda property communications manager, said: "The store will be trialling 24-hour weekday trading as well as six hours on a Sunday when we open in November.

"We received planning permission from the council but had to decide if we wanted to trial the hours.

"We'll see how it goes and decide if it should become permanent or not."

The store will be located at the Cornbow shopping centre and news of the 24-hour opening has been welcomed by bosses at the centre.

Centre manager Eve O'Connor said: "We hope both Halesowen stores and shoppers will embrace the opportunity brought by Asda.

"It's unlikely we'll mirror their 24-hour basis for the whole centre.

"We're currently polling feedback from both traders and shoppers with a view to trial Sunday opening and one late night a week.

"We've had a lot of support and would still welcome any thoughts."

People can give their feedback by calling 0121 2126250.

Asda bosses plan to start recruiting for their 400 full and part-time jobs by September.

Last month Dudley Council's development control committee approved plans for the addition of a mezzanine level in the supermarket, to include a customer restaurant and toilets.

The 75,000sq ft store is the showpiece of the town centre redevelopment which includes a new fascia on the outside of the Cornbow centre, a new 600-space car park and a revamp of the bus station.