Council rejects plans for M&S store

PLANS by Marks and Spencer (M&S) to open a major store in Tralee have been finally rejected by the local town council.

Up to 40 people staged a silent protest outside a behind-closed-doors council meeting on Monday night. The meeting failed to come up with a sufficient majority that would allow the British retail giant to open shop in the Manor West retail park, on the outskirts of the town.

M&S chief executive (Ireland) Neil Hyslop said the chain would be looking at the possibility of opening in either Limerick or Killarney.

Commenting on reports that M&S had plans to open a food store in the centre of Tralee, Mr Hyslop said there was no opportunity with a large enough site for such a store.

“We now have to move on and look elsewhere, unfortunately,” he added.