A HAIRDRESSER, who was given six months to leave his Timperley salon to make way for a supermarket, has opened a new shop.

Robert Sands, who has run Cuts Both Ways on Stockport Road for 25 years, was left devastated in March when he was told he had to shut up shop.

He and the takeaway Pinnochios, which has been there for 15 years, were told they would have to vacate the units to make way for a 4,000 sq ft supermarket.

The father-of-three feared he may have to close his men and women’s salon after he was unable to find an alternative in the village.

But on Monday September 26, Robert opened his new salon - across the road from his original venture.

The new salon took almost four months to renovate at a cost of £38,000.

Robert’s former landlord Oddfellows forked out £20,000 for the new store but he was forced to take out a loan for the remainder, which was spent dividing the new unit into two shops to replicate his former salon.

Robert said: “I’m really pleased with the salon and everyone has been impressed. It looks great.”

But he said moving had been ‘horrendous’ and he still was not sure what was going to happen to his old salon.

Landlord Oddfellows is believed to be drawing up plans to convert the four units into one large retail unit, that would be suitable for a supermarket but so far no application has been submitted to Trafford Council.

A spokesperson for the not for profit organisation Oddfellows said: “We are now preparing plans which will seek to modernise and improve the retail offering, subject to planning approval.”

A large number of residents, traders and councillors are against plans for a supermarket and in March started a campaign to protest against the proposals.

For more information notosupermarket.co.uk.