A former Marks and Spencer employee is leading a petition to encourage the store to remain at its current town centre site.
Christine Atkinson, who worked at the Bishop Auckland branch for 30 years, hopes the petition will show the business how important it is to local residents.
Christine decided to take action after rumours began circulating that M&S will be moving to a unit at the new retail site in St Helen Auckland, which is currently under construction. Store bosses have neither confirmed or denied this, although they recently extended their lease at the town centre store until 2013.
Christine commented, “I have been told there is not enough footfall for Marks and Spencer. They will not tell me if they are planning to move, but it is really important that the store stays where it is.
“Once we have collected the signatures, I will be taking it to the head office.
“It would be such a shame if we lost it.”
Bishop Auckland Town Council will also write to the store expressing their wish for it to remain where it is.
Bishop Auckland's local community newspaper.
