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.

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."