RESIDENTS have vented their anger at the opening of a carpet shop in Potters Bar. Protesters set up a group on social networking site Facebook last month, after Carpetright moved into the former

RESIDENTS have vented their anger at the opening of a carpet shop in Potters Bar.

Protesters set up a group on social networking site Facebook last month, after Carpetright moved into the former Woolworths store in Darkes Lane.

At the time of going to press, the group had a staggering 1,089 members.

Writing on the group's wall, one member, Patrick Pagan, labelled the opening of Carpetright a "crazy idea".

Alex Tshulak added: "It's certainly made Potters Bar a more attractive place to shop - not."

A number of members have put forward suggestions for shops they would prefer to see instead of Carpetright, including Asda, Primark, Argos and Topman.

Grace Moore suggested: "We need a clothes shop - like Topshop!"

Josh Myers echoed her sentiment, asking: "Why can't it be a good clothes shop or something?"

Many residents have also written about how much they miss Woolworths.

A nostalgic Benn Keymer said: "Woolies was much better."

Suzanne Elman wrote: "Woolworths made Potters Bar...."

And Yasmin Alobaidi said: "Nothing will ever fill the space that was Woolworths."

The Potters Bar Edition first broke the news that Carpetright had purchased 77-79 Darkes Lane on April 1.

Following a period of refurbishment, the store finally opened on May 30, four months after Woolworths closed its doors for the final time with the loss of 19 jobs.

New store manager Nathan Gowers said he and his staff had received "nothing but abuse" since the store opened.

"It has been tough but people are starting to warm to us now," he said.

"We are having people come in from Hatfield, Brookmans Park, Essendon and Cuffley.

"The businesses around here are going to benefit from us being here.