East Kilbride's MP is calling on the boss of Marks and Spencer to restore the reputation of the town's scandal-hit 'ghost store'.
Following a barrage of complaints about the state of the once thriving flagship retail unit, Dr Lisa Cameron has appealed for action from M&S chief executive officer, Steve Rowe.
The Plaza mall branch has been operating as an outlet store since December, with disgruntled customers branding the sparse "slim pickings" shop a "ghost store".
Windows and doors that face into the shopping centre had previously been blacked out as if M&S had deliberately made it appear as if the store was closed.
The retail giant narrowly escaped a contempt of court finding after “pushing the envelope” in complying with a legal order to keep the store open, and was told it needs to do more to keep trading from its East Kilbride branch.
Whilst the town's MP is pleased the blackout paper covering the store has been removed, she has raised concerns with Mr Rowe that the stock and layout of the store has not changed since December, leaving little to no choice for customers visiting the store.
This is compounded by the fact that foodstuffs have also been removed on a continual basis leaving customers with little or no choice when visiting the store itself.
This has also affected a number of East Kilbride’s elderly, who can't get to the out of town store without access to a car.
The MP has asked for these matters be addressed as "a matter of priority," both to remedy the current situation and to restore the reputation of M&S as a flagship store in East Kilbride.
Dr Cameron told Lanarkshire Live : "The East Kilbride community is getting behind the town centre as part of our COVID-19 recovery, and I am asking today that M&S do the same.
"The store is a vital part of the town centre for many constituents in the area, and I have raised this directly with the CEO that he address these issues as a matter of urgency.”
The retail chain was taken to the Court of Session in July 2020 by its landlords Sapphire 16 S.A.R.L.
The property firm launched an action at Scotland’s highest civil court after it became aware through an East Kilbride News article that M&S were set to close the store.
Its lawyers told a judge last year that M&S’s plans breached a contract it had signed with Sapphire 16 obliging them to keep the store open until 2071.
Sapphire 16 then won an interim court order they believed forced M&S to keep the store open and trading.
However, lawyers for the commercial property firm returned to the Court of Session this year after it believed the retail chain was “doing the bare minimum” in complying with the order.
Its lawyers told Lord Braid that it was now operating as an outlet clothing store selling ‘clearance’ stock.
The firm’s legal team also said some of the store’s doors remained shut and windows were blacked out, giving shoppers the impression that it was closed.
The court also heard that the shop had minimum levels of stock and sales staff.
Lord Braid was told that a private detective who made two ‘covert’ visits to the store was told by staff that it was still set for closure.
Last year customers were greeted with a sign telling them to visit the M&S food hall in East Kilbride’s Kingsgate Retail Park.
A statement added: “M&S East Kilbride remains open as an outlet store with a selection of clothing and home products.”
EK, East Kilbride said M&S had been "an important part" of the EK community for many years, with a spokesman for the centre saying they "looked forward to working with the retailer" to fully reopen the town centre store.
An M&S spokeswoman said today: “Our store in East Kilbride Shopping Centre is fully open and trading and will remain so until we are able to agree a commercial agreement with our landlord to close.
"We appreciate this is disappointing news for some in the local community but this forms part of our wider store estate transformation. We hope to be able to reach a commercial agreement with our landlord and share our plans with the local community as soon as possible.”
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