M&S denies closure rumours in Scarborough town centre store

​Over the bank holiday weekend, several posts in Scarborough-related social media groups suggested that the Marks & Spencer store in Scarborough town centre would be shutting down.

​One such post, which stated “It’s closing! Scarborough town is dead” above a photograph of the department store at 8 Newborough, attracted more than 300 comments from concerned members of the public.

​However, on Monday, May 5, a spokesperson for the retailer confirmed that the shop will remain open.

​The spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “There are no plans to close the store.”

​They added: “We will share any updates if plans change.”

Newborough, Scarborough. Google Maps

​Many who commented on the erroneous social media post correctly highlighted that there was an absence of information to back up the claim about the store’s supposed closure.

​One social media user commented “not sure this is fact”, while another added “fake news”.

​Hundreds of commenters said they were worried about the future of the town centre businesses and highlighted the closure of other shops in Scarborough town centre in recent years.

​Last year, the retailer Next was given permission to expand its Seamer Road premises as part of the closure of its town centre site.

​Commenting on Facebook, one user said: “Why does everything have to be out of town retail parks? If, like me, you don’t drive, they are always hard to get to on public transport.”

​It comes as dozens of people have objected to proposals for a major new ‘retail destination’ and drive-thru at Filey Road in Scarborough.

​​Scarborough has the highest town centre vacancy rate in the county at 18.6 per cent, followed by Malton at 17.1 per cent, while Whitby has a vacancy rate of just 7.6 per cent, according to a council report.

​In March, North Yorkshire Council launched a pilot project that could force businesses in Scarborough to let out their vacant properties as part of a plan to improve economic performance.

​​The scheme will see the introduction of new powers that allow local authorities to require landlords to rent out “persistently vacant commercial properties to new tenants such as local businesses or community groups”.