Date set for M&S closures
THE date has been revealed for the closure of two Greater Manchester Marks and Spencer stores.
The branch in the Merseyway Shopping Centre, Stockport, and an outlet store at the Crownpoint Retail Park, Denton, will close on April 21.
The high street giant said staff at both stores will be redeployed to other branches.
In January M&S launched a consultation into the proposed closures with a final decision announced yesterday.
Julie Ridley, head of region for Manchester, said: “Proposing to close the Stockport and Denton stores was a difficult but necessary decision and over the past few weeks we’ve been consulting with our colleagues about what is right for them. Following this rigorous process, the decision has been made to close the stores on April 21.
“We’d like to thank our customers at the stores for the feedback they’ve given us over the last few weeks.
“We hope to see lots of the customers continuing to shop at our other stores in the area as well as on M&S.com.”
It comes after M&S shut down its homeware store at Barton Square in the intu Trafford Centre on January 20.
The retailer said the proposed closures are part of a continuing programme to ‘modernise’ its UK stores as part of chief executive Steve Rowe’s five-year turnaround plan.
His tenure has seen a string of changes introduced, including a raft of shop closures and a withdrawal from international markets.
M&S recently announced it plans to cease operations at its London distribution centre, putting 380 jobs at risk and outsource its 430-strong IT team in a cost-cutting move. A Tameside council spokeswoman said: “We’re very disappointed about this proposed closure and would hope, if it does happen, that all staff will be redeployed within other local M&S stores.”