It was to my deep sadness and regret that on I was informed on Tuesday that Marks and Spencer is to close its store in Huddersfield town centre. The store is not only the source of employment to 71 of my constituents, but it is a vibrant and long-standing pillar of our town.
The decision will have profoundly damaging and lasting effects on footfall in the town centre, the security of the store’s employees, the access of shoppers, the prospects of M&S and indeed the faith consumers have in the retailer. Huddersfield, for 85 years, has shown loyal custom to the retailer and I believe that M&S should duly value this and reconsider its decision to withdraw from the town centre.
Huddersfield is a vibrant retail hub and it saddens me greatly to know that M&S intend to no longer be a part of that. For nearly a century, the people of Huddersfield have had access to a full range of M&S products and that practical convenience is now being taken away from them in a move that I consider to be short-sighted and fundamentally flawed.
I urge Marks and Spencer to halt its implementation of this decision and consider how it can retain its vital and valued presence in Huddersfield. I stand with my constituents and ask the retailer to think on what I believe to be a decision which will incur lasting damage to consumer confidence, the place of M&S on the high street, the constituency’s loyal customers and the store’s 71 employees.
