“The edge of town shopping decisions were taken by the former Scunthorpe Borough Council and the former Glanford Borough Council. Of North Lincs Leaders Ian Cawsey, Nic Dakin, Don Stewart, Alan Holgate & Liz Redfern didn't serve on either and whilst Mark Kirk did he came on just before abolition and after these decisions were taken. In fairness to those former councils national planning policy at the time (under Mrs Thatcher) was to develop retail on the edge of towns. This has now changed but for many the damage has already been done.”

“For how long exactly have the likes of Nic Dakin, Mark Kirk, Liz Redfern et al been involved, held seats and held any influence and sway on the various guises of successive councils serving Scunthorpe and North Lincolnshire?!! You only have to look at the demography of NLC's elected members to realise these are in the main long established and time served local representatives.”

“Scunthorpe is not short of shops - there is a Tesco Extra, ASDA, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Next, Toys r Us, all the usual electrical & DIY places - the problem is that previous councils (before North Lincs) placed them either side of the town - of course it's hit the town centre but don't blame those who didnt take those decisions!”

“As a relative newcomer, having taken note of the dire track record, conduct and performance of your 3rd rate politicians and councillors here in North Lincolnshire; it should be no surprise that your 2nd rate councils have achieved very little in their part to halt the demise of Scunthorpe High Street, Markets and other areas of Nth Lincs economy, image and reputation.

What the local political, legal and supposed democratic systems lack in quality, substance, calibre and integrity; they make up for by being arrogant, devious and deceitful in protecting and defending their own personal and political interests and the "system" at all costs.

And given the political toing and froing, infighting and failures of successive councils to do their bit in supporting, managing and maintaining a viable and successful Scunthorpe High Street, Market areas and entertainment venues. How can anyone possibly have any confidence and trust in their judgments and decisions to throw £41 million of public money at the Pods and Baths or their alleged new found ability to manage viable and successful developments?!

When the local High Street and economy has clearly been brought to its knees through mismanagement; surely the writing is on the wall for the potential for council tax payers (in already the country's 4th highest taxing local authority) to once again be left with picking up a substantial tab for this council's ill thought out excesses?!”

“Wait a minute !!!!

I thought there was a super dooper Regeneration Department at the Council, the infamous Town Team in Scunthorpe and Yorkshire Forward, are they not sorting out the problems ?


They made loads of promises that they would rebuild Scunny, what happened there ?”

“yes it is sad that m&s is closing but i cant understand all the comments on here slagging primark in todays economy there needs to be a range of shops for all customers personally i have only been to m&s once and found it very dull the only really bad thing about it closing is all the people loosing their jobs”

“Another nail in the coffin of Scunthorpe closing M & S! The future of our town looks very bleak indeed. Yet millionso of pounds being spent on more white elephants like the Pods after Club 2000 remains empty and ungly and out of place.The Parishes (or do I mean the Perishes as it is a wind tunnel in winter, exposed to the elements!?) and the wretched so called bus station also badly thrown together with no imagination and no innovation - all third rate to add to this third rate town that is rapidly going down the pan! They missed their chance even in the 1970's as the original precinct was poorly planned and developed to a third rate standard and the exorbitant rents kept out all local home grown businesses that we so badly needed - when I visit other towns, Scunthorpe just makes me weep! We do not need parking charges in the town centre!?Why has a spanking new luxury car been bought for the Mayor when so many folk struggle to pay the exhorbitat council tax?????”

“I am not surprised M & S have decided to close the Scunthorpe store. Over the years less and less people seem to use the town centre for shopping anymore, myself included.

How come other towns similar to Scunthorpe seem to have diversified much more successfully and not lost major stores during recession periods?

There is no reason at all the use the town centre anymore for the majority of the Scunthorpe population. The market is no longer thriving, BHS and M&S are now closing and even banking is available on-line.

Who wants to pay high parking charges to visit a town with nothing to offer anymore?”

“Is there any reason to go into Scunthorpe town centre now. I only tend to go to M & S to purchase food these days. The market is almost dead, BHS and M & S now closing. There are no decent stores left to make the parking charges worthwhile anymore.”

“the trouble with this town and the shops in Scunthorpe High Street is they are forced out of business. First Skippingdale built up, then dropped for Lakeside development, then thats pushed aside for Glanford Park. Its not all about parking, its putting cheaper bigger and better shops on the outskirts of Scunthorpe. Leaving the town centre shops paying high rents, rates but declining sales. If as much was spent in developing the town centre shopping and appearance as these other sites had, with reduced business rates to move into them. Then we would have a good town centre. I feel sorry for the workers who will be made redundant, with little chance of getting another position the same. Even the small corner shops are struggling more and more, with 24 hour shopping at major supermarkets, they have now lost their tea time trade. What we need is a council with a sympathetic ear, and an understanding of what this town really needs, with some incentives to shops opening in the centre. if that doesn't happen then in five or less years this will definitely be a ghost town.”