Use Marks & Sparks or lose it.

M&S will be closing its Northwich store in less than a month.

Signs have gone up in the store’s windows announcing that the branch on Leicester Street will close after the day’s trading on Saturday, August 17. In a bid to remain competitive and stay in business M&S have already announced the closure of 17 UK stores in an effort to transform the company.

Sacha Berendji, M&S retail, operations and property director said: “We’re continuing to transform M&S with pace and as part of this we are making good progress with our plans to close over 100 stores – radically reshaping our store estate to become more relevant for our customers. Proposing to close stores is never easy, for our colleagues, customers or the local community, but it is vital for the future of M&S. Where we have closed stores, we are continuing to see an encouraging number of customers choosing other nearby locations and shopping on M&S.com.”

30 years ago I was running Macclesfield Community News and predicted that the increasing opening of retail parks and hypermarkets would eventually destroy the high street. Back then I had no idea what was on the horizon in the form of the internet and could have no concept of the massive impact it would have on retail.

My take then was that the less mobile members of society would suffer most. They wouldn’t have the resources to drive to out-of-town shopping centres and load their car boots. That still holds true but now they’re also being hit by their inability to become internet shoppers – if you don’t have a credit card – and probably no computer – you’re pretty much isolated from any benefits available on the world wide web.

If footfall in Marks & Spencer’s Macclesfield store continues to decline – it will be closed. Those able to drive down to Handforth Dean won’t care – those dependent on a local M&S will be hit hard.

The only way to ensure it stays open is to use it.