M&S confirms Stockport withdrawal, Rochdale uncertainty remains
Stockport Council has said that it is “extremely disappointed” to learn that following efforts to keep the retailer’s Merseyway store open, Marks & Spencer has decided to proceed with the planned closure.
At the end of January, M&S announced that it intended to close its store at the Pyramids shopping centre in Birkenhead, and that Stockport and the outlet store at Crown Point North Denton were under review.
Cllr Kate Butler, Stockport Council’s cabinet member for economy and regeneration, said: “We are very disappointed that despite having worked with Marks & Spencer on a number of options to keep their store open, they have decided to go ahead with the closure of their Stockport store.
“We will now continue to work with them to ensure all affected staff are supported and to learn more about their plans for their building.” The council is the landlord for the store, having acquired Merseyway several years ago.
Tameside Council has not had confirmation of Denton’s closure. A council spokesman said: “We’re very disappointed about this proposed closure and would hope, if it does happen, that all staff will be redeployed within other local M&S stores.”
Uncertainty remains over the future of Rochdale’s Marks & Spencer. The embattled retailer last year rowed back on its plans for the town, where it had signed up to relocate to a 50,000 sq ft anchor store at Rochdale Riverside. However, in November it said it would instead continue to trade from its existing Yorkshire Street store.
A council spokesman today told Place North West: “There’s nothing further to say at the moment – discussions are ongoing and there is a signed contract. We’re still hopeful they will occupy the store.”
Stockport going downhill , & it’s a shame. Our bus station is disgusting, all that building of Red Rock when we already had cinema & bowling. Market gone. What is the point of all the new parking when all the shops are going. Ashton Warrington much better.
By Jess mullen
Stockport council would sooner have pound shops all over Stockport sad
By Anonymous
I think this says more about Marks and Spencers than it does about Stockport. They are boring. The shops look the same now as they did in 1987.In fact most of the clothes do too. A John Lewis would do well in Stockport with its well-heeled suburbs.
By Elephant
1. £42 million plans for new bus station
https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/projects/in-pictures-go-ahead-for-stockports-42m-transport-interchange/10019260.article
as part of…
2. £1 billion investment in Stockport (road infrastructure/ leisure/ commercial/ public realm/ train station revamp)
https://www.stockportchangehere.org
^^ lot of pound shops with that money…
By Caleb
Elephant – Stockport already has a John Lewis, in Cheadle – there probably isn’t the market for another one.
By John
I agree John the Cheadle one had slipped my mind.
By Elephant
I agree with Elephant on M&S. Whilst Stockport is pretty down at heel, the M&S there does itself no favours. They’ve made no effort with it either internally or externally and it’s felt like a sinking ship for years. As for Stockport, it is in the same boat as many of the ‘M60 towns’ but to be fair to the Council they seem to be working hard to try and make a difference through acquisitions such as the former RM Delivery Depot and Merseyway. I for one hope that Stockport can find its legs!
By Chris
This has been coming for years I’m sorry to say. Maybe the council can look at turning the closing/closed stores into one/two bed apartments which is what we really need. A mix of shops and housing would work well. People are buying on the internet now so M n S closure won’t be the last. More council housing is desperately needed. Turn M n S into housing please.
By Tina landis
Merseyway will end up like a ghost town. I shop at M & S Stockport at least twice a week and I prefer Stockport to Handforth because there’s a variety of shops – although at this rate not for long. Please – no more pound shops!
By C lundqvist
Very sorry to see m&s close.
Unfortunately too expensive and clothing very poor, old fashioned in many ways.
Cafe great and the staff lovely
By Sharon dennehy