“Sickeningly familiar story” as M&S pulls out of another Welsh location

Responding to the news that Marks and Spencer’s has confirmed it will shut its flagship Swansea City centre store later this year, Sioned Williams MS, Plaid Cymru Member of Senedd for South Wales West, said:

“This is terrible news for Swansea City centre and for the staff, although this is a sickeningly familiar story to many whose high streets have lost historic stores.

“As with Marks and Spencer’s departure from Neath in May 2024, this is more than losing a job or losing a shop, it’s losing a piece of local history. The Oxford Street store is an important part of many people’s lives, not least for the 92 who work there currently. During its 100 year presence in Swansea, there will have been people who have given their working lives to this store and loyal customers who have helped build this company’s multi-million pound profits.

“I’m glad to see the company not ruling out maintaining a presence in Swansea, but that location should be in the city centre, and not out of town.

“I've written to Welsh Government asking what support will be offered to staff, and I will be writing to M&S to urge them to retain a full-line store in the area.”