Tuesday, February 05, 2008
In response to the news announced this week that the Marks and Spencer’s store in Tooting Town Centre will close in May this year, I have called on Wandsworth Council to do more to support retailers and attract larger stores to our area.
Despite my best efforts, M&S will be closing after 40 years on Tooting High Street. The priority now is to get a flagship brand replacing M&S at their current location. It is also important that the 51 staff at the Tooting Marks and Spencer’s branch, half of whom live locally, are offered employment at the new Colliers Wood branch, or other local stores. I am pleased to have received a number of assurances from M&S in this regard, including confirmation that all staff will be consulted.
It is really important for local residents like me that we have a vibrant town centre. We don’t want a parade of only bargain shops. We want mainstream prominent retailers to add to our diversity of shops.
I will be working with the Tooting Town Centre Manager to try to ensure that Marks and Spencer is replaced by a store that provides a useful service to local people and creates even more local jobs.
Despite my best efforts, M&S will be closing after 40 years on Tooting High Street. The priority now is to get a flagship brand replacing M&S at their current location. It is also important that the 51 staff at the Tooting Marks and Spencer’s branch, half of whom live locally, are offered employment at the new Colliers Wood branch, or other local stores. I am pleased to have received a number of assurances from M&S in this regard, including confirmation that all staff will be consulted.
It is really important for local residents like me that we have a vibrant town centre. We don’t want a parade of only bargain shops. We want mainstream prominent retailers to add to our diversity of shops.
I will be working with the Tooting Town Centre Manager to try to ensure that Marks and Spencer is replaced by a store that provides a useful service to local people and creates even more local jobs.
# posted by Sadiq @ 6:02 PM 
