Marks and Spencer to check out of Parkgate tomorrow

Staff and customers were saying a fond farewell to each other this morning in store after it was announced the high street giant would leave the retail park on May 4.

The closure has forced its 79 staff to either take redundancy or relocate to M&S stores in Meadowhall, Barnsley or Cortonwood.

M&S caused controversy when it announced in 2003 that it was moving out of Rotherham town centre after 70 years, with the Parkgate store opening the following year.

Parkgate Shopping manager Janet Drury said: “Myself and customers are very sorry to see them go and it’s sad for the staff as well.”

An M&S spokeswoman confirmed the site was still on the market, adding: “We hope to share an update with the community soon.”

M&S announced in January it was consulting with staff over the possible closure of 17 of its 1,043 stores. It confirmed three months later that the branch at Parkgate Shopping would be its only South Yorkshire store to be axed.