Subway will not abandon Dover centre despite opening new out-of-town premises.

The sandwich shop chain says it will keep its Cannon Street outlet as well as having another at a new trade park in Whitfield.

It bucks the trend of increasing numbers of town centre shop closures and more expected to go when the new St James’ development opens.

A Subway spokesman said: “We are pleased to confirm that a new Subway store will be opening within the Honeywood Retail Park in Dover, which will be in addition to the current store on Cannon Street.

“The store is expected to open in July 2018 and will create 12 new jobs.”

The precinct between Dover Town Hall and Market Square already has 12 empty shop premises and last week McDonald’s announced that it would be leaving its Biggin Street outlet on November 4.

This is before the arrival of massive competition from the £53 million St James’ retail and leisure development, which is due to open in the first quarter of next year.

Sandra Malho, owner of La Salle Verte cafe, in Cannon Street, on September 12 presented a 1,388-name petition to Dover District Council calling for efforts to help keep the precinct alive.

Marks and Spencer and Poundland, in nearby Pencester Road, have confirmed that they will leave the precinct for new units at St James’.

Greggs the bakers said they would have premises both at St James’ and the town centre.

Costa Coffee, Carphone Warehouse, Shoe Zone, Superdrug and Card Factory are also moving to St James’ but have not confirmed whether they will close their precinct outlets.

Subway’s new store will be at the £8 million TradeMarq trade park, which is due for completion next March.

It also has an outlet at the BP garage in Limekiln Street, Dover.

Other traders with more than one premises in the same district include KFC, with branches in Market Square, Dover, and Whitfield.