Call for Newark residents to be proactive following Marks and Spencer's announcement to close town centre store

A call has been made for the public to be proactive in their fight to save town shops.

Mr James Baggaley, who works in public policy, wants Newark residents to act following Marks and Spencer’s announcement last week that it has started consultation with staff over place to close its town centre store.

More than 41 staff are affected by the proposed closure of the Stodman Street store, which was one of 100 announced by the retail giant.

The store will close before the company opens its proposed food hall on the outskirts of town.

Mr Baggaley said: “It’s time to be proactive. We should all be concerned that this is the beginning of the biggest change to the high street for nearly 100 years.

“We should all be asking what our leaders, both locally and nationally, are doing to prepare us for the biggest change to our town centres since the 1930s.

“Currently they are failing to act and in doing so put the vibrancy of our town centres at risk.”

James suggested that there should be a register of landlords so questions could be asked about why properties were left empty and what landlords were doing to make sure they are filled.

“Business rates should be looked at because currently physical retailers are being punished for having stores that employ staff while major online retailers can avoid this burden, providing an unfair competitive advantage to online retailers,” he said.

“It should be noted that these online retailers often employ temporary workers on low wages and fail to make the same kinds of tax contributions.

“We should all have a say on the reinvention of the town. It’s about investing in community centres, libraries, providing services for young parents and free wifi in the town centre.

On the Advertiser Facebook page people raised concerns about the M & S relocation.

Eunice Hulme said: “Many people shop in Marks and Spencer on impulse whilst walking through the store both in the food department and clothing, this isn’t going to happen if they relocate a food hall elsewhere.”

Valerie Stunt said: “That’s such a shame. As long as I can remember Marks and Spencer has been part of Newark. My mum always took us there when we were children and I shopped there as a teenager and adult until I moved to Australia.”