Swindon shoppers express concern over M&S store closure

Shoppers outside the Regency Street store expressed their disappointment

Shoppers have expressed concerns over the closure of a Marks & Spencer store that has been a key part of Swindon's high street since 1911.

The Regent Street branch will close on 28 October with residents worried it will negatively impact the town.

It is part of a major branch shake-up with 67 of its bigger shops to shut within five years, part of a plan to create fewer but better main stores.

M&S said it was "not sustainable" for the store to continue trading.

"Since the announcement, our priority has been to support our colleagues, but we have also engaged with our landlord who intends to include the building in their wider regeneration plans for the Brunel Centre which they have previously shared," an M&S spokesperson added.

But speaking on BBC Radio Wiltshire, several shoppers expressed their disappointment at losing "a key part" of the town centre.

'Stores will suffer'

"I think it's very sad," one said.

"The town is already going downhill, one of the only reasons I would come in is for Marks".

Another shopper said the high street "will die without M&S".

A third shopper added: "The closure is dreadful. It brings a lot of footfall into the town and I think all the stores will suffer because of it.

"But what can you do, Swindon is just closing down I think".

The M&S store is one of the major shops on Regent Street

The retailer told staff about the closure on 8 August.

The BBC understands they will have the option to move to out of town branches at Mannington and the Orbital shopping park.

M&S has previously said that stores which have already relocated to newer, more modern sites are performing strongly and the 67 to close were "lower productivity, full line stores".

The company is looking to to expand its food business and will be opening 104 new Simply Food stores in the coming years.

An M&S spokesperson added: "Shopping habits are changing, so we're rotating our store estate to make sure we have the right stores to offer customers a brilliant shopping experience.

"We are also currently working with British Land on plans to invest in our M&S Swindon Orbital store and we hope to be able to share more news on these plans later in the year."