MARKS and Spencer have announced that their town centre store in Golden Square will close at the end of July – despite a plea from Warrington Borough Council to reconsider the decision.
All 95 staff, who were given the closure date yesterday, will be offered jobs at nearby stores in Gemini and Stockton Heath after the store finally closes on July 29th.
Following the shock announcement in April that the store was going to close, Warrington Borough Council held talks to try and persuade the national brand to remain in the town centre which is currently undergoing a major regeneration at Time Square.
It had been hoped to persuade M&S to retain a food offering at Golden Square. But the pleas fell on deaf ears.
Cllr Terry O’Neill, leader of the borough council, said: “While I am disappointed that Marks & Spencer has taken the decision to leave Warrington town centre, as part of its national rationalisation, I am confident that the heart of our town will continue to thrive and grow.
“Warrington town centre has a bright future: with major investment in retail, leisure, residential and office facilities set to transform the core of our town for generations to come. We have been working hard for a number of years to breathe new life into our town centre and to ensure its commercial viability. We are creating a vibrant, welcoming, diverse and user-friendly place and this work will continue.”
When M&S won planning permission for their store at Gemini they pledged it would have no impact on the town centre store.
But with changes in shopping habits, with more and more people now shopping online, M&S announced the Warrington closure as one of six store closures.
