Published: Thursday, 29th January, 2009 1:19pm

M&S petition gathers pace

by Richard Crowe

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<a href="http://www.bracknellnews.co.uk/petition.php?pid=1">Click here to sign the petition</a>

A PETITION to save Bracknell's popular Marks & Spencer food store from possible closure is filling up fast.

Town centre traders set up the petition after bosses at the beleaguered Simply Food store earmarked the Princess Square branch for the chop earlier this month as they said it was under performing.

But concerned shoppers, many of whom have sent in forms to Midweek's sister paper the Bracknell News as well as signing online - say they cannot understand why the store has been threatened with closure. They feel the town will suffer if bosses go through with the proposal.

Linda Parker, who has signed online, said: "I was very upset to hear of the planned closure of 'our' M&S food shop in Bracknell.

"It always seems to be a busy shop. I shop there a lot and would miss it dreadfully."

Petition founder Jane Gates, who runs charity bookstore Bas Books in Crossway, said: "We are delighted that the Bracknell

public have taken such a strong interest in our campaign to save Marks & Spencer within the town centre.

"It's great that so much support has been gathered to save this store and we will be looking to build this up in the coming weeks."

Mrs Gates said traders will be doing all they can to persuade M&S chairman Sir Stuart Rose to protect the store from closure.Other businesses that have signed up and taken signatures include Jennings Bet and Fresco in Crossway and Headlines hair salon, which has shops in Crossway and Princess Square.

Stuart Jeffcoate, owner of Tudor Dry Cleaners and Just In A Tick shoe repair in Princess Square, said: "We've got three pages full of signatures, everyone's been signing it. We agreed to have the petition and now everyone's been signing.

"I feel sad that they're going to pull out. Being in the retail trade as well I feel M&S brings a lot of trade into town and I don't know why they want to close, they always seem busy. I know a recession is on at the moment, but it won't last forever."

Petitions will be in shops including Bas Books, Headlines, Fresco and Tudor Dry Cleaners. The 25 staff who work at M&S have now entered a 90-day consultation period over the closure.

Look out for this week's Bracknell News for a form to add your name to the petition or sign online at www.bracknellnews.co.uk