A LEADING councillor has pledged his support to the Echo’s campaign to save the town’s Marks and Spencer.

On Thursday, the Echo launched a petition against the closure of Town Square’s M&S which has been at the heart of Basildon since it opened in November 1971.

The retailer is entering into consultation about its Basildon store, which has left shoppers fearing it could be “the death of the town centre”.

We launched the petition urging M&S to reconsider after the Government announced they would give £10million to regenerating East Square, which would feature a cinema, homes and restaurants.

The council’s Conservative leader, Phil Turner, has added his support to the campaign.

Mr Turner had a group meeting last night where he pitched the petition to his fellow Conservative councillors.

Mr Turner said: “They have business needs, of course they do, but we would very much like them there for the long term future. I will definitely support the petition, and I have a group meeting tonight so will raise the petition there, and attempt to give it my councillors’ full backing.

“We want to support the staff in the store, and the community and I think the latest announcement on the regeneration project may throw a different light on it.

“I have already asked council officers to go back to M&S and ask them to reconsider.

“We will see footfall increase, the proposals will see that and that can only be good news for the traders in the town.

“Personally I think this is hugely exciting, and we all want M&S involved and it seems a strange time for them to pull away from the town.”

Basildon’s Labour leader Gavin Callghan, although yet to to issue his support to the Echo’s campaign, previously stated he hoped the promising news about the East Square regeneration project could convince the supermarket to stay.

Hilary Wilkinson, Marks and Spencer head of region for Essex, said: “Proposing to close the Basildon store has been a difficult but necessary decision.

“Over the coming weeks we’ll be talking to each colleague individually about what is right for them and we’ll update customers and the community as soon as we can.”

To lend your support to our campaign, visit the petition at change.org/p/marks-and-spencer-save-basildon-s-marks-and-spencer