Bolton: New roles for staff at M&S 'wherever possible'

The news that the Deansgate branch is set to close was broken to staff in January with the announcement sparking widespread concern about the state of the high street.

But M&S says it is consulting with workers at the branch about the fate of their jobs before the closure goes ahead.

A spokesperson said: “Shopping habits are changing, so we’re rotating our store estate to make sure we have the right stores to offer customers a brilliant shopping experience.

Marks and Spencer has been a presence in the town for decades (Image: Newsquest)

“As part of this transformation, we have announced our proposal to close our M&S Bolton store at 35 Deansgate.

“We are currently in consultation and talking to colleagues about what this announcement means for them.

“We have confirmed that wherever possible, should the proposal go ahead, we will offer them alternative roles with M&S.”

The company also has branches in Bury at the Rock shopping centre and at Middlebrook retail park in Horwich.

But leaving Bolton town centre represents the end of more than 100 years of history, with M&S having been a presence in the town since first opening a Penny Bazaar in the Market Hall in 1892.

There have also been concerned raised about how members of staff will be affected.

Bolton South East MP Yasmin Qureshi said: “The wellbeing of staff should be at the centre of any redundancy consultation and their individual needs must be carefully considered.

She added: "These staff members, currently in limbo, have given years of their life to help their business grow and prosper, and that should be acknowledged in any package.”

The Deansgate branch is one of many around the country that could soon be set to leave the high street.

Shopworkers union Usdaw has said that closures like this show that it is vital that they are able to represent staff in such circumstances.

Regional secretary Mike Aylward said: "Usdaw has thousands of members working for Marks and Spencer and the staff now need, more than ever, the representation and support of an independent trade union.

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“We again urge Mark and Spencer management to abandon their long-held resistance to recognising Usdaw as the union to represent its staff.

"At this time of great uncertainty, staff need to be assured that an experienced and knowledgeable trade union is interrogating the company's business case for this store reorganisation.

“Given the opportunity Usdaw would ensure that all avenues to save jobs are explored and staff are treated with dignity, fairness and respect.”