A petition has been launched to keep an East London town’s Marks & Spencer open after the retailer announced that they will be closing almost 70 stores across the country by 2028. M&S revealed it will be closing more stores, including two in London.
Ilford, in East London, is one of the areas that is due to lose its beloved store – but locals aren’t happy about it. Paul Scott, 47, told MyLondon: “We are very concerned how much further downhill this town can go.”
He said that Marks and Spencer is an important store to have in Ilford as it keeps the town on the retail map. The well-known brand encourages people from outside Ilford to travel to the high street to try on clothes and buy groceries.
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Paul said that Ilford has already lost a number of popular shops over the years, including Harrison Gibson, Fairheads and HMV. While he acknowledged that sales at the store may have dropped, Paul said when he goes into M&S, he always see a “reasonable amount of people” in the shop.
But not only is M&S important for bringing more people into town, it’s also a social hub, Paul said. People meet up and chat while doing some shopping together, which is another important aspect to ensuring a thriving town, he said.
The exact date when the Ilford Marks and Spencers will close has not yet been confirmed. To sign the petition to keep M&S in Ilford open, click here.
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