Supermarket return gets online backing

EVESHAM shoppers are being urged to back an online campaign to help bring back Marks and Spencer into the town.

Ahead of today's (Friday) public consultation, nearly 200 people have joined a Facebook group backing the retail giant's return following its closure in 2009.

The supermarket's plans were first announced last week with bosses preferring having a new store at Evesham Shopping Park after opening talks with Evesham Market Town Partnership.

Evesham resident Helen Donovan suggested to her friends to set up the Facebook group urging fellow shoppers to attend the consultation and said its possible return would help bring in more people to the town.

"It would be brilliant to have Marks and Spencer back in the town," she told the Observer. "I think if you spoke to a lot of people here they would say they have missed it a lot since it closed two years ago at Riverside.

"Our nearest Marks and Spencer stores are at Stratford and Cheltenham and to get there we would have to travel at least 17 miles.

"Having Marks and Spencer back would be a big boost for the town. I think the whole town should encourage big retail names to come to Evesham and I'm sure it will help bring much-needed jobs for people looking to get into work."

The public consultation takes place between 11am and 7pm at Evesham Town Hall.

Clem Constantine, Director of Property at Marks and Spencer, said: "Over the past year, we have reviewed the trading situation in Evesham and feel that Evesham shopping park provides the ideal conditions to open a Simply Food store.

"The 9,000sq ft selling space will offer our customers the very best of M&S food, together with the creation of approximately 60 new local jobs," he added

To join the Facebook group login and type 'Bring Marks and Spencer back to Evesham' in the search box and click 'join group'.

Evesham Market Town Partnership is also using the social-networking website to keep residents updated with the latest announcements regarding the plans. Their Facebook page can be seen by visiting www.facebook.com/EveshamTown.

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