Saving Scunthorpe's Marks & Spencer store top of council chiefs' agenda
COUNCIL chiefs will meet Marks & Spencer bosses next week to discuss ways of saving the doomed Scunthorpe store from the axe.
As reported, the retail giant has started a consultation over closing the High Street store with the loss of 36 jobs.
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The Marks & Spencer store in Scunthorpe's High Street.
But company chiefs have offered a glimmer of hope the 78-year-old store could be saved from closure in the new year, following North Lincolnshire Council's offer of talks and pressure from Scunthorpe Telegraph readers.
An M&S spokeswoman in London told the Scunthorpe Telegraph: "This is a meaningful consultation.
"Although we believe we have looked at every available option and opportunity to keep the store open, we will listen carefully to any suggestions employees and local councils have for alternatives.
"And, of course to the views of the local community including readers of the Scunthorpe Telegraph."
Council leader, Councillor Mark Kirk, has promised every support will be offered to M&S in an all-out bid to keep the flagship store of the High Street trading.
But company chiefs – who have also announced closures of three other branches in Skegness, Grantham and Nuneaton – insist commercial viability is their first consideration.
The spokeswoman said: "The Scunthorpe store has suffered declining sales and profitability for at least three years.
"As a result, we have done individual reviews of these stores, but unfortunately took a decision to propose them for closure."
The company has revealed the lease of the High Street store, which opened in 1932, does not expire until 2027.
The spokeswoman added: "We have reached a point in the arrangement where we need to make a decision as to whether to continue the lease or hand the property back to the landlord."
No trade unions are involved in the redundancy talks among the 36 Scunthorpe employees as M&S does not recognise them in the UK.
But the company insists representatives of employees will lead the consultation process and everyone will have the opportunity to have their views heard.
The company has declined to disclose the numbers of shareholders, loyalty and credit card members it has in North Lincolnshire.
There is also no information available on the number of customers currently using the High Street store each week.
The spokeswoman said: "We do not break out individual footfall figures for stores, nor do we break out individual trading figures, so we cannot give out details."
One Scunthorpe employee, who asked not to be identified, said: "The news came out of the blue. We all believed the store was performing above standard.
"When we reported for work at 8.30am on Thursday, we were given the news. We were absolutely gutted. We were sobbing so much they had to delay the opening of the store by an hour until 10am.
"During the early consultations we have been told there are no replacement jobs on offer at other M&S stores in the region.
"Most of us believe this is all about the company wanting to terminate the leasehold agreement in the new year, rather than the financial viability of the business."
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by Socialist Fool, Ashby
Monday, July 26 2010, 5:19PM
“Has anyone else noticed how the more the local council attempt to "regenerate" Scunthorpe town centre the further downhill it goes? The announcement that Kirk et al are going to "help" some more should not inspire anyones confidence. Government is the problem in this country, not the solution.”
by deanodog, shopping in sheffield
Monday, July 26 2010, 1:04PM
“I am sorry to say that I'm bred and born in this town. The town center is absolutely horrible!! There has been no investment there for years. I suppose M&S will now become another charity shop, or something on the lines of Bargain madness. No wonder everybody shops out of town. Take a look at Doncaster. They've spent money on there town center and made quite a good job of it too. Even Gainsborough, which used to look pretty bleak a few years ago now looks good. It's because they continue to spend money on the town center. Lets start at the top of the high st and bulldoze the lot right down to and including club 2000. Even if we don't rebuild it would still look a damn sight better to anyone coming into scunthorpe!!”
by Jones, Warmington - on - Sea .
Sunday, July 25 2010, 12:17PM
“Remember this is not just a shop that is shutting , it's a marks and Spencers shop that shutting .”
by kno it all, barton-upon-humber
Sunday, July 25 2010, 9:19AM
“Kirk and the idiots in charge of NLC have ruined Scunthorpe shopping and wasting millions£ on stupid projects,his latest wheeze is the Lincolnshire lakes project to flood 1000s of acres of good farming land and build 1500 houses on a potential flood plain behind Tesco's.
Now their after only one thing YOUR VOTES NEXT MAY SO THAT HE CAN KEEP POWER in Nth Lincs and completely ruin Scunthorpe .
Vote to scrap the Humber Bridge tolls and make it cheaper and easier to shop in a better place.!”
by Eyeless, Gaza
Saturday, July 24 2010, 8:57PM
“Boycott Marks'-they support Israel.”
by Bald Mikewin, Weather-Filled
Saturday, July 24 2010, 5:53PM
“Remember Corah's...?
The underware stitching factories, one off Scotter Rd and one in Brigg. Marks & Spencers were their biggest customer, that was until Marks & Spencer pulled the plug in ordering from them in favour of buying cheap from abroad back in the late 80s - early 90s. That resulted in the Brigg factory shutting down and ultimately finished off the Scunthorpe workshop.
I stopped shopping there back then.
Will I miss Marks & Sparks..?
No! Simples.”
by Peace Now, Gaza
Saturday, July 24 2010, 5:24PM
“Boycott Marks', they support Israel.”
by me, scunthorpe
Saturday, July 24 2010, 5:06PM
“I work for M & S and personally I think the way we have been treated is completely out of order. We have performed well over the past years and have exceeded every target set for us. M & S is definitely not overpriced, and although the clothing side of the store is limited, it caters for the older generation, and we have in store ordering for all other items, which may i add has exceeded all targets! The food hall runs in line with other major supermarkets and has good offers on all year round, and the quality of the food is excellent. I personally agree that the store should be saved... Not because of the company, but because of the people who run the store. They are all like my family and work long hours to keep the place going, and I have to say since the news broke through that we were closing, the store has been busier than ever. So please please think about all the people who work there, and pop into store and sign the petition. Scunthorpe town centre is declining fast, and losing marks and spencers marks the beginning of the end....”
by Judas, Sunny Scunny
Saturday, July 24 2010, 3:24PM
“For pity's sake, wake up and smell the coffee. The only thing the local Labourites are toadying after are the votes of the naive, apathetic and gullible come next May's elections and retaining control of NLC?!”
by Paul, Messingham
Saturday, July 24 2010, 3:04PM
“Further to my previous comment- "The spokeswoman said: "We do not break out individual footfall figures for stores, nor do we break out individual trading figures, so we cannot give out details." If this is the case then how do they actually know the store has declining profitability?”