Shopper's bid to save Parkgate Marks & Spencer from closure

A WORRIED shopper is petitioning Marks & Spencer in a bid to save the high street chain’s Parkgate store from closing.

Julie Gibson (66) said losing M&S would leave a “huge hole” at Parkgate Shopping and be a big loss to the town as whole.

M&S announced last week that it planned to shut the store — putting 79 jobs at risk.

In total, 17 of its 1,043 stores have been earmarked for closure, including Huddersfield and Hull.

Parkgate’s is the only South Yorkshire store under threat and if shut, M&S customers would have to travel to Meadowhall, Barnsley or the M&S Foodhall at Cortonwood to find their next-nearest branch.

Hairdresser Julie launched a petition this week at her daughter’s salon, Trends By Emily on Rawmarsh Hill, and stood outside M&S on Tuesday to collect signatures against the closure.

“I’ve got 69 signatures so far,” said lifelong M&S customer Julie. 

“I’m just saying to people that I’m an ordinary shopper and would they sign this petition.

“I am going to send to the store’s head office to try and stop them from closing it down.

“If I don’t get anywhere at least I have tried.”

Julie has also been petitioning people waiting for the bus outside Trends By Emily and said everyone had been in favour of the store staying open.

Clients at the salon were also unhappy about the news, she said.

“A lady told me she had COPD (chronic obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and wouldn’t be able to get to Meadowhall and she liked Parkgate as she could drive and pull up right outside it, have a coffee and go home,” said Julie.

Julie said she had told M&S bosses in a phone call about the petition and they had reminded her the store was “not definitely going to close”, with a consultation period under way .

“I shop there more than twice-a-week — the staff are so lovely,” said Julie.

“If it shuts its a big hole out of the retail park and it’s a big place to lose.

“Depending on what the weather is like on Saturday, I might go down (to M&S) and collect more signatures.”

A Marks & Spencer spokeswoman said its consultation was with colleagues but it welcomed feedback from customers, communities and towns’ representatives.

Feedback can be emailed to [email protected], posted to Executive Team, Chester Business Park, Wrexham Road, Chester, CH4 9GA, or given by phone on 0333 014 8440.