Wakefield Marks and Spencer's new out of town food only store: Your reaction
Marks and Spencer's decision to build a new food only store at City Fields and close it's existing Wakefield city centre store and has received a mixed reaction.
The company said it will start building work next year on a new fresh market-style food store at the stalled district centre at City Fields off Neil Fox Way in the Stanley area of Wakefield.
At 18,000 square foot, M&S say the new food hall will be double the size of the existing food section at the Ridings store in Wakefield city centre.
No date has yet been set for the closure of the Marks and Spencer’s store in the Ridings.
The plans have received a mixed reaction from readers on the Express Facebook page.
Lynne Parkinson wrote: "We need a store in town not on retail parks. Not everyone has a car."
Nicoletta Pritchard commented: "Fabulous news. Well overdue. This store will be so popular
Carol Wood wrote: "A city centre should have a Marks and Spencer store."
Tara Latef wrote: "It’s good news."
Joanne Mary Smith wrote: "And for the older generation, particularly those that are alone, a trip into Wakefield city Centre is more than just about going to the shops. The Ridings is undercover, it’s warm, there are benches. And going to Marks & Spencer’s is a big part of it."
Nicoletta Pritchard commented: "Fabulous news. Well overdue. This store will be so popular
Diane Murphy wrote: "Why couldn’t they have kept the food store in Wakefield centre? It’s the busiest part of M&S, people seem to use clothing as more of a walk through area."
Carole Marsh commented: "Well City fields needs something. I can't believe when we are trying to save the planet, that they would build thousands of houses that have to use a car for everything!"
Hazel Chapman wrote: "Sad day when it goes. It was the end of Castleford when they closed that branch, hope it doesn’t happen to Wakefield."
Joanne Mary Smith wrote: "So very sad that Marks & Spencer’s are turning their back on the elderly clients that have been their bread and butter for all these years that won’t be able to access the new site. I know business is business but it’s going to really put another nail in the coffin of Wakefield city Centre."
A Marks and Spencer spokesperson said: "The new 18,000 sq ft store will be one of the most modern in the UK and offer the full M&S Food range for customers.
"Work will start on site next year, in line with the next phase of the development, and we will keep customers and the community updated on opening date."
Aldi is due to start building work on a new store at the district centre at City Fields later this year.
There is no update on previously proposed medical services at the stalled City Fields district centre site.