Just yesterday I saw that our local large store, Marks and Spencer, was to close its doors in favour of a new “food hall” at the retail park at Peacock cross. Apparently it’s to “best serve the local community” to close these doors……what absolute rubbish…..it’s only in the best interests of M&S coffers to close these doors. It will take away a needed store for the maintenance of the Town Centre. It will take away a well known, reliable high street brand, that many local and from outwith the town, people come. Older people visit here for many things whether that’s their clothing shopping, meeting friends in the cafe or food shopping but M&S in their wisdom want people to travel either into Glasgow or to Silverburn for this now, or when the shop closes. People with chronic illnesses who cannot travel far, will too, lose out. New mums who meet up in the cafe for a “cuppa” will also lose out. Also the people who work there, some could lose out. So M&S repeat that again, whose interest is it in. Our town centre is dying and this is surely the dying throws of it, especially if this store goes. I’m asking the people of this town of Hamilton and people from the surrounding area to sign this and be counted. You’re ripping the heart out our town centre M&S.  Reconsider. Please!