Emma Lewell-Buck has expressed her disappointment at this week’s announcement that South Shields’ Marks & Spencer store on King Street is to close.
The closure was announced on Tuesday, signalling the end of the retailer’s eighty year presence in the town. Marks & Spencer’s statement said that a “commercial decision” had been made to focus on their Silverlink store. They confirmed that the 37 staff employed at the South Shields shop would receive a guaranteed role at Silverlink.
Emma told the Shields Gazette:
“This is devastating news, and a blow to our town centre. I have held crisis talks with Marks & Spencer and I am deeply disappointed they are not prepared to reconsider their decision to close the store.
“Marks and Spencer told me that a sharp decline in sales over the last two years means they are no longer able to keep the shop open, but the shop has always seemed very busy when I have been there.
“The announcement of another business abandoning our high street will confirm the suspicions of many that the Government’s supposed economic recovery isn’t being felt in towns like South Shields.”
Emma also hopes that the £100m regeneration of the town centre would encourage businesses like M&S to return in the future.
The Gazette has started a petition opposing the closure of the store, which can be found by clicking here.