RETAIL giants H&M today moved to allay fears that their Ipswich store could follow in the footsteps of a Norwich branch which closed last week.

Neil Puffett

RETAIL giants H&M today moved to allay fears that their Ipswich store could follow in the footsteps of a Norwich branch which closed last week.

The fashion chain axed a store in The Mall in Norwich amid speculation the closure could be due to the economic downturn.

However a spokeswoman for H&M told The Evening Star today that the decision was not due to the current financial climate.

She added that no further store closures are planned for the remainder of 2009, an announcement that appears to guarantee the short-term future of Ipswich's Tavern Street store.

“The Ipswich store is absolutely going to stay open,” she said.

“In Norwich we had two stores and we follow the development of specific markets as conditions change.

“Some shopping centres become stronger than others and this was the case in Norwich.

“We always want to be in the best possible business locations.

“Our lease came to an end with one of the stores in Norwich and we took the decision to focus on our larger store in Norwich.

“It is the only store we plan to close this year.”

Ipswich's H&M store opened in 2007 and features 1,600 square metres of floor space divided into three floors.

Are you concerned about the future of Ipswich's high street? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk