A FAMILY business that has been in Braintree for 15 years has announced it will close.

Gift and homeware shop, La Maison, in Sandpit Lane, announced on Tuesday through Facebook that it will close its doors for the last time in two to three weeks.

Owner Jonathan Chase, 48, said the conditions in the town made running the business ‘unsustainable’ and people must support local businesses.

This comes just before Braintree Council’s redevelopment of Sandpit Lane, which has been planned since 2014, and started this week.

It includes an ornamental arch at the junction of Sandpit Lane and High Street, installing 14 planters along Sandpit Lane, a wall mounted mosaic panel to the wall of 71 High St and a floor mounted display board adjacent to 75 High Street, all in an effort to increase footfall.

Mr Chase said: “The conditions in the town centre are unsustainable and people must support local businesses.

“We really rely on the public and those good people to stand up and say let’s do something about it.

“It’s so important to the vibrancy of the town, even if they just buy a card.

“It’s a real shame because we have been here 15 years and it’s a family business that I run with my wife, Jo.

“We used to have four staff that worked here as well.

Myself and my wife were looking at the responses on Facebook last night and there are such kind words that people have said.

“We have made so many lovely, kind, real decent people and have made so many friends since we have been here and I’m going to miss that.”

One Braintree resident said the shop closure is “more bad news for Braintree Town Centre”.

Mark Deal, 46, of Sun Lido Square Gardens, said: “Our town is falling apart.

“If some drastic changes are not made then the people of Braintree won't have a town to shop in.

“Maybe Braintree Council needs to spend the funds earmarked for Sandpit Lane on generating new retailers and more staff to promote the town.”

A closing down sale begins today.