John Lewis reopening crucial for city

.. and breathe.

The news that the John Lewis store in Queensgate is to reopen after its lockdown enforced closure is the best news the city has had for some time.

And that’s even if you never shop there. Its presence gives Queensgate real pulling power not just for Peterborians but out-of-towners too.

Queensgate without John Lewis would have been a significant hit to the centre and without a thriving Queensgate the city centre would surely die on its backside.

What could possibly have replaced it ? The world’s largest vape store? Or the world’s first betting shop theme park?

Thankfully, we don’t have to worry about that now as John Lewis will reopen later this month.

Despite my unwavering support for the store I’m not claiming I ‘saved’ it.

Let’s be clear the bosses at John Lewis have reopened the store for one reason and one reason only – they believe they can make a profit out of it and that maybe, just maybe, they’d like some return on the recent £21 million investment on the store.

If they thought they couldn’t make the store pay its way, the closing down sale would be underway now.

Meanwhile the unhappy shoppers in Birmingham and Watford may be feeling they’ve been Knowingly Undersold as tough decisions to close their John Lewis department stores have been made.