Published: Monday, 19th January, 2009 4:21pm

Is it really a fantastic place to shop?

by Rose Harland

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TOWN bosses have remained positive despite the threatened closure of a top high street store.

Cllr Marc Brunel-Walker, Bracknell town mayor, said the possible closure of the Marks and Spencer Simply Food Store in Princess Square does not herald the end for the town centre.

The store is one of 27 listed by M&S under review due to falling sales figures.

Cllr Brunel-Walker said: "Bracknell is still a fantastic place to come shopping, just look at the number of people shopping here over Christmas.

"It is a blow but it is not something that will rip the heart out of the town centre." The announcement was made on Wednesday last week after M&S recorded a decline of 5.2% in food sales over the last three months.

The 25 members of staff will now be consulted as part of the review.

Bracknell Forest Council leader Paul Bettison said: "My heart goes out to the members of staff. It's never a good time to lose your job, especially after Christmas.

"I'm just happy that in this area there are quite a lot of job opportunities - more so than in other parts of the country." Cllr Bettison also said he could understand why the beleaguered retailer had taken the decision to close some of its shops.

He said: "Although it's sad that 27 high streets will lose an M&S it's probably better than the possibility of keeping them going and later have them all disappear, which is what happened to Woolworths."

Shoppers said they were stunned by the announcement.

Laura Webb, 22, from Easthampstead, said: "I'm really shocked because we always buy our bread and cakes from here.

"It's really sad news that they are leaving the town because we were regular shoppers, we always pop in there to get our lunch as do loads of other people, it's a real shame."

Janet Read, 65, from Binfield, was also saddened by the news.

She said: "There is nearly always a queue in the store. It is a great shame as there are certain things in M&S that you can't get in other shops."

Others said the shop's closure was a massive blow for the town centre - which has also seen its branches of Woolworths and Adams close in recent weeks.

Fred Casey, 64, from Bracknell, said: "I think it is a great shame that the store in Bracknell is being closed down and it will be sadly missed.

"I do the majority of my shopping outside Bracknell in towns including Reading, Camberley and Basingstoke as Bracknell town centre doesn't have much to offer.

"I think the regeneration of the town has come far too late. Bracknell doesn't stand a chance."

For more on the future of the town centre see this week's Bracknell News.