MARKS and Spencer will not return to the town centre after it dismissed calls for a food-only branch of the store to replace its former High Street premises.
The retailer ended its 78-year presence in Rugby town centre last November when it moved to the redeveloped Elliot’s Field Retail Park – disappointing shoppers and campaigners who wanted it to remain open or be replaced by a new M&S Food Only store.
Since then, over 1,000 people have signed a petition urging M&S to return to the town centre, started by MP Mark Pawsey.
Mr Pawsey said he was ‘deeply disappointed’ M&S had finally ruled out the move.
He said: “I know from speaking to local residents that they feel very strongly about this, particularly elderly residents for whom travelling to Elliot’s Field is not a practical alternative to a town centre store.
“It is clear how much the company’s food offer is valued from the responses I received to my petition. This is an issue which is still regularly raised with me when I speak to local people.
“I believe that the response to the closure of the town centre store shows that there would be a strong customer base for a Simply Food Store on the High Street and I am very disappointed that Marks and Spencer will not give the opportunity further consideration.”
