A NORTHWICH Barber is fearing a cut in profits after discovering one his rivals could be setting up shop two doors down.

A planning application has been submitted by David Curbishley – one of four barbers who run High Street Barber Shop – to open up a new shop in 92 Witton Street.

Daniel Bebbington, owner of The Barbers Shop, in Witton Street, received a sharp shock when he noticed a planning notice pinned up outside his shop.

“I was in disbelief to be honest,” Mr Bebbington told The Guardian. “I’d heard a few rumours that they were moving but I didn’t realise they were going to be moving next-door-but-one.

“Things are hard enough in Northwich as it is the way things are going. It’s a struggle.

“We’ve had four new shops open up in Northwich, which I’m more than happy about, because they’ve opened in good areas that are not overlapping each other.

“But I think this is just a little bit too much. It’s just too close. It’s right bang on my doorstep.”

High Street Barber Shop has been established in Northwich for 44 years, 22 of those in High Street.

Mr Curbishley said he and his three business partners decided to re-locate due to their lease running out on their current premises and due to one of them retiring.

“The landlord is putting the premises up for sale and I was 62 in April,” he said. “At first he wanted us to sign a ten-year lease, but I can’t do that at my age.”

Mr Curbishley said the vacant Witton Street shop is ‘ideal’, particularly due the size and rent.

However Mr Curbishley said he didn’t give much thought to the shop being so close to a rival.

He said: “I just dismissed it to be honest because I thought most of our customers, when we moved from our last barbers, they moved with us, so I’d like to think they’ll do that again.

“To be honest I don’t think for one minute we’re going to affect his trade whatsoever.”

However, Mr Bebbington feels that it is inevitable the two shops will lose business as a result of the move.

“I just think it’s just little bit silly,” he said.

“I’m going to be taking business off him, he’s going to be taking business off me and then we’ve got three other shops surrounding us.

"I just don’t see how it can go well for us.”