100 M&S stores to close – including East Kilbride branch
Retail giant Marks & Spencer (M&S) has announced that it is to close 100 stores across the UK by 2022.
Stores in East Kilbride and Falkirk are earmarked for closure in 2018-19.
The closure programme was first announced in November 2016 and 18 shops have already closed across the UK, including three relocations, one of which was in Greenock, which moved to nearby Port Glasgow.
The latest announcement of closures will affect 872 of the company’s employees.
Sacha Berendji, retail operations director at M&S, said that “closing stores isn’t easy but is vital for the future of M&S”.
M&S currently has over 1,000 stores in the UK, including the Argyle Street and Sauchiehall Street branches in Glasgow’s city centre, however, these are unaffected by the closures.
The closure of the East Kilbride store, located in the town’s Plaza puts 67 jobs at risk and politicians have expressed their concerns.
East Kilbride SNP MSP, Linda Fabiani, said: “This would be a huge blow to staff and customers and to our award-winning retail centre. Marks & Spencer is a busy store and I hope the company recognises the loyalty shown by East Kilbride over many years.
“I see that staff redeployment is promised should this closure proceed, though I am sure we would all rather see Marks & Spencer remain in our town centre.”
Graham Simpson, Conservative MSP for Central Scotland, said: “This is very disappointing news and could be potentially devastating for the town centre. My first thoughts are with those who could lose their jobs. They will be desperately worried and the authorities and the company must make sure they get all the help they need.
“I have a real concern on the effect this key tenant leaving could have on the town centre. It’s one less reason to visit. I hope the town centre owners can fill the gap quickly but, with the current retail sector struggling, that will not be easy.
Councillor John Ross, leader of South Lanarkshire Council in, said that the announcement “is very disappointing and deals a significant blow to the town centre.”
A spokesman for EK, East Kilbride said that the shopping centre are “urgently seeking further information from them [M&S], whilst M&S regional manager, Shirley McCullough, said that deciding to close the store was a “difficult decision” for the company.
Despite the closure of the East Kilbride store, M&S will keep their Kingsgate Simply Food store open in the town.
