Bid to save Barrow M&S store from closure backed by MP

Regeneration leaders, politicians and other groups in the town have joined forces to ask company bosses whether the store can be saved.

The group want to stress to the retail chain that the town is on the edge of "considerable" growth in a bid to save the store and its 57 jobs.

But those involved admit the "odds are stacked against us" in being able to stop M&S from closing its Dalton Road supermarket.

The company announced last week the store had been earmarked for closure alongside 16 others across the country as the it shifts to serving customers online.

At a meeting of the Furness Economic Development Forum's Quality of Life Delivery Group, town centre stakeholders agreed to approach M&S for "dialogue" under the leadership of the Barrow and Furness MP, John Woodcock.

Mr Woodcock said he spoken to a senior member of M&S's head office.

He said: "I have to admit the odds seem heavily stacked against being able to save the Barrow branch.

"But is it good the company said it would listen to any counter-proposal and we are going do whatever to assist the staff team putting that together."

The MP cited the marina development as one area set to bring an economic boost to Barrow

"We are drawing up ambitious investment plans for the town centre.

"They were at pains to stress their team has looked at potential and already believe they have factored that in to their consideration.

"I wish I could be more optimistic but that is the situation as it stands."

"We are unlocking progress

The MP said he spoke to a senior member of the M&S

"I cannot say whether that will be sufficient to save the store.

"This is part of an international phenomenon of stores changing the way they sell produce and it is a massive challenge for town centres across the country.

Mr Klosinski said: "If you are M&S and looking and looking at the situation away from Barrow, you might not know the town centre was on the edge of considerable change.

"