Shopper dismay over M&S plan to leave Peterborough centre

Shoppers have reacted with dismay after Marks & Spencer proposed shutting one of its city centre stores.

M&S said it planned to shut its store in Queensgate Shopping Centre, Peterborough, because of changing shopping habits.

Regional manager Craig Burton said staff would be offered "alternative roles with M&S wherever possible".

The BBC spoke to shoppers, who said it would be "very sad news for Peterborough" if the store closed.

In 2021, John Lewis announced it would leave the Queensgate centre after almost 40 years.

Former teacher Cath Barrell, who is from Cardiff, said M&S was "not just any" shop.

"It's not a disaster - that's too strong a word," said Ms Barrell, who used to live in Peterborough and regularly visits.

"But's it's very sad news for Peterborough and a significant loss to the centre - especially after John Lewis.

"These are big name stores which offer quality and choice and have a history."

She added: "Marks & Spencer is famous for its 'not just any food - this is M&S food' slogan, and Marks & Spencer is not just any shop."

Sid Oliver said the loss of shops like M&S brought a tear to the eye.

"I am 86 years old, and I have been using Marks & Spencer since I was about 12," Mr Oliver told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.

"It is going to be very, very sad to everybody."

He added: "It brings a tear to the eye to see all these bigger shops keep going."

Shoppers pointed to the rise of online shopping, out-of-town trading, and parking as reasons why the city centre stores were leaving.

"I guess they (M&S) know what they are doing in terms of footfall," said Rachel Curtis, 46, of Peterborough.

"But it is a real shame."

She said Peterborough was "going down", and added: "It's just places to eat now and phone shops. That's all there is."

M&S thanked customers for shopping in the store and said it would continue to serve them at the M&S Peterborough Brotherhood store and M&S Foodhall in Serpentine Green Shopping Centre.

"Shopping habits are changing, so we're rotating our store estate to make sure we have the right stores to offer customers," said Mr Burton.

"In recent years we have invested over £31m in our stores in the East of England and we look forward to working with the local council to bring forward plans for further future investment into Peterborough and the wider local area."

The news came after M&S recently reported higher-than-expected Christmas sales and profits last year..

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