REGIONAL Senedd member Altaf Hussain has invited Marks and Spencer bosses to Neath following their decision to close down their store in the town.
Welsh Conservative Dr Hussain said: “I want them to come to Neath in person to see for themselves what a large and well managed store they have here and realise that it is worth fighting to keep. M&S have made many marketing errors in recent years but things are starting to improve for them. The people of Neath, who have loyally supported this store through thick and thin for decades, are now being punished for the failings of top management.
“While business will undoubtedly have been lost to online shopping, recent retail surveys are showing that people are getting sick and tired of ordering on-line and finding that clothes are not the quality, the colour or fit that they need. People are going back into High Street stores where they can feel the fabric, check the colour and actually try on the items.
“I want M&S to hang on in there with their Neath store and see if trade patterns are reversing and that this shop, which was once the beating heart of the town, can once again be profitable. Give Neath another chance!”
He added that staff at Neath Port Talbot Council had implemented a successful regeneration of the town centre in recent years.
He said: “Staff there have worked their socks off encouraging new brands into the town and have also bought small shops which they rent to small businesses giving shoppers greater choice..
“They have also made massive investments into the town with the redevelopment of the old Tesco store and multi storey car park into a new car park and store which is to be taken over next month by The Range following the collapse of the Wilko chain.
“They have also attracted people into town by developing a fabulous new swimming pool, gym and library in the town. This builds on their work in refurbishing the Gwyn Hall.
“I will be asking M&S chiefs to meet me on site, so that they can see for themselves how crucial their store is to the future of Neath which has been a market town for centuries. M&S stands at the centre of the town so this proposed closure is devastating. It will undermine everything that the council has been doing.”
