As a former store manager, I have great affection for “the Arch”, Marks & Spencer’s Marble Arch store on Oxford Street, London. So I feel compelled to respond to Simon Jenkins’ article about plans for its demolition and redevelopment (M&S is a shining example of how not to treat the high street – or the planet, 28 October).
First, the current site, consisting of three poorly connected buildings, is a warren of dense structures and misaligned floors, not fit for today’s modern customers or staff. As we set out at the recent public inquiry, retrofitting the store is not a viable or deliverable alternative.
