So sad that Marks has lost its Spark

THE recently announced M&S shop closures reveal the future of the British high street hangs in the balance. Maplin, ToysRUs and BHS have all shut. Now M&S is in danger of going the same way.

However, there is a solution and that’s for the Government to tax online sales at a higher VAT rate.

Smaller shops simply can’t compete with these online giants with the result that our once bustling town centres are blighted with a proliferation of coffee shops and charity outlets.

There’s also the question of saving jobs and the environmental cost of hundreds of white vans blocking our roads delivering the next Yodel or Amazon parcel. Politicians need to support our high streets. Jim Draper, Lydiate, Merseyside I see that M&S is closing around 100 branches as a result of falling sales and profits. This comes as no great surprise to me as most of its goods are very overpriced. When I was young, the St Michael brand was synonymous with well-made British products which were generally slightly more expensive than those of their high-street rivals, but which had longevity. These days, I never even bother looking in M&S as there is plenty of competition from better value clothing outlets. If M&S management doesn’t pay attention to such feedback from prospective customers, then the business will continue to lose trade. Ralph Frost, Southampton

It was sad to read that Marks & Spencer is to close over 100 branches. Coming soon after the closure of BHS and Maplin, what will become of our town centres?

Many older people don’t want to shop online. We enjoy visiting the shops which is also a social occasion where we can meet our friends. I think it’s sad that in my lifetime we have seen so many high-street favourites disappear. J Mitchell, Middlesbrough

Why is it that CEOs of retail businesses, including those at M&S, who are responsible for store closures with the inevitable redundancies, always claim that it is a tough decision for them?

They will still have jobs after the changes, while many thousands of ordinary workers won’t. G Crawford Medway, Kent

I’m a pensioner and feel M&S caters more for the younger generation and has forgotten its older customers. It also has far too many lines and needs to go back to basics – tailored skirts, nice sweaters and decent jeans that fit. Carol Doust, South East London I was really disappointed to read that M&S is to close many of its stores. While shopping online is convenient, it’s sometimes necessary to visit a store instead. I recently ordered two jackets from two separate companies online. However, neither was suitable which meant I had to spend time and money sending them back. I’ve now decided in future I will try clothes on in a store instead. Debbie Richens, South East London It’s hardly a surprise that M&S is seeing its profits plummet when it is so much more expensive than other stores. Nor is the quality what it once was. Consumers have more choice these days and seem to be voting with their feet. J Morgan, Blackpool