Mayor still hopes John Lewis will reopen store

WEST Midlands mayor Andy Street has said he had ‘‘no prior notice’’ of John Lewis’ proposed closure as he vowed to continue his fight to overturn the decision.

Mr Street said he was not informed of the announcement to shut the landmark store in Grand Central, Birmingham city centre, despite his prior role as managing director.

He says he can still shed no light on the background to its decision, which sent shockwaves through the city.

He confirmed he was due to meet with John Lewis chair Dame Sharon White in a bid to reverse the decision. It comes as Mr Street outlined his plans to reverse the “dreadful mistake” of closing the branch in the heart of the city.

In the immediate aftermath of the announcement, he said: “The proposed closure of John Lewis in Birmingham

is incredibly disappointing news, and my thoughts are with all the partners and their families affected by this announcement.

“The city is one of the top three in the whole of the UK for retail, with high footfall and many other retailers thriving in recent years. Against this backdrop it is extremely disappointing that John Lewis & Partners has not been able to make a success of its flagship Birmingham store.

“But my belief in its potential is unwavering, and I still believe the store can not only be a great success, but also provide a brilliant retail offer for the city and the wider region.

“At this stage the closure is still only a proposal, and one which I believe risks being a dreadful mistake. Therefore I will be making the case for why the company should not give up this tremendous opportunity in Birmingham.”