M&S food store is considered

THE plans that M&S had for Mumps.

OLDHAM Council is in talks with Marks & Spencer to get the company to bring its food-only store to the town.

Council leader Jean Stretton defended her comments made at a full council meeting last month, when she insisted that M&S was coming to Prince's Gate at the Mumps tram stop.

But the council was dealt with a blow when M&S announced weeks later that it had scrapped plans to open a clothing, home and food store on the current park-and-ride site at Mumps.

The company confirmed plans to close 30 UK clothing and homeware shops and convert dozens more into food stores.

M&S and Oldham Council first announced the plans for Prince's Gate in November, 2014, as part of a mixed-use scheme with retail and residential opportunities.

Councillor Stretton said: "The answer I gave about M&S was the truth at the time.

"That very week M&S told us they weren't going to come, we were still in consultation with them.

"We are meeting with them on Monday about bringing Simply Food somewhere in Oldham.

"I am making a promise to do our level best to persuade them to bring that here."