Clarks to close Scunthorpe store as council urges buy local

Summarised from BBC Lincolnshire's report · Updated 21 Oct, 21:44 · Archive

The Clarks store in Scunthorpe is to close in early December. North Lincolnshire Council leader Rob Waltham said the departure was 'another blow' for the town centre and highlighted the problem of dependence on large chains. He noted that Scunthorpe, like many other towns, has lost a number of major retailers in recent years, despite receiving government funding to regenerate the town centre.

Waltham urged shoppers to 'buy local' and support independent businesses through the council's Buy Local, Back North Lincs campaign, describing local traders as 'people who live locally and employ local people'. He acknowledged the council's limited ability to control retail closures, saying: 'The council doesn't own the shops and we don't set the rents.' Shoppers described the loss as inevitable because of changing shopping habits.

Read the report

• 'Buy local' call as shoe shop chain pulls outCouncil says the departure of Clarks is a blow to Scunthorpe but urges support for local businesses.BBC Lincolnshire · 21 Oct, 15:57

In this story: Clarks · North Lincolnshire Council · Scunthorpe · North Lincolnshire · Rob Waltham

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