BUSINESS bosses fear the closure of Marks and Spencers “would be the death of Southend High Street as we know it”.
The retail giant has announced it will be closing 30 more stores across the country as part of the next phase of its long-term transformation plan.
Changes are being accelerated in the wake of the pandemic, with a year of lockdowns leading the firm to record a £201million annual loss in the past year.
Shops struggling to make a profit are most likely to be axed.
Southend High Street has struggled to retain retail giants in recent years, with Debenhams the latest to close after shutting up shop for good earlier this month.
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Lynda Taylan, store manager at the Evapo Southend vape shop, next door to the M&S, said: “It would be a huge loss. More and more shops are disappearing. M&S attracts the higher earning kind of customers, so where will these people now go?
“We will see fewer customers walking past and popping in because they walk past. A lot of our customers do shop at the M&S.
“You don’t get people just walking up and down the high street, they’re going for a specific shop.
“But there isn’t anything for them to see. It would be the death of the High Street as we know it.”
M&S has already closed or relocated 59 stores, but said it is accelerating changes to its portfolio of shops following the impact of the pandemic.
Suzanne Gloyne, manager of Southend BID, said: “It’s currently unconfirmed which 30 stores M&S are planned for closure over the next ten years and I remain optimistic that our Southend store will remain open as it is frequently busy with residents, visitors and staff employed in the local area.”
Tony Cox, leader of Southend’s Tories, fears the potential closure will leave the high street “singing its last line.”
He said: “It would be a massive shame to lose M&S from the high street.
“The council needs to be offering them support and incentives to stay. That support could make all the difference.”
The Echo revealed last month how 17 shops lay empty on Southend High Street.
Former stores now abandoned include Quiz, Ponden Home Interiors, Ann Summers and Dorothy Perkins, with the former Monsoon building advertised on Rightmove.
Niche independent stores, activities for youngsters or even a mini roller-rink, have all been suggested to fill them.
Ron Woodley, deputy leader of Southend Council, added: “The future of Southend is looking bright. I hope M&S don’t make a decision based on footfall, when we’ve had more than a year of the Covid pandemic.
“I hope they base their decision on the future of the high street, rather than the past.”
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