Shopper calls for John Lewis to give Watford store a 'reprieve'

Caroline Sampson, who created a petition to save the John Lewis store in the town from closure, believes people may have become "complacent" about having a John Lewis in Watford.

She is urging the department store to reconsider their decision.

Mrs Sampson, who was employed by the John Lewis Partnership in the 1990s, said: "John Lewis should at least give shoppers a chance to show their loyalty to the branch.

"Maybe they could reopen for a trial period, even six months.

"I think those 12,000 people who signed the petition would put their money where their mouths are and would definitely come back into the shop.

"Perhaps shoppers had become complacent about having a John Lewis in the town.They are certainly not complacent about it now."

Read more: More than 10,000 people sign petition to save John Lewis in Watford

John Lewis said its decision to close its store in Watford was because the store was "financially challenged" despite paying no rent because it had a virtual freehold.

The petition calling for a U-turn in the closure was handed in personally to the John Lewis Partnership headquarters by Watford's MP Dean Russell last week.

Mrs Sampson added: "The strength of feeling - as witnessed by the number of people who have signed the petition -, and the

apposite comments made on the petition, show that people are very willing to support John Lewis and would shop there if it were to reopen."

When Mr Russell handed the petition in, he accompanied it with a letter urging for a meeting with the chairman of the partnership, Dame Sharon White.

The mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor, said earlier this week that he had a meeting arranged with Ms White.

Read more: Watford mayor set to meet with John Lewis chairman