Nearly 10,000 people sign petition to try and save Peterborough's John Lewis

Last week it was announced the department store in Queensgate would not be re-opening after lockdown is ended.

However, now more than 9,000 people have signed an online petition to try and save the store.

People signing the page have said there are a number of reasons to keep the store open.

For one shopper, the store held personal memories. They wrote: "John Lewis holds a special place in my heart and my wife's. We used to treat ourselves to a slice of cake and a drink when we went to town and back in 2016 we had decided to go to the cafe in John Lewis. We didn't realise at the time that it would be the last time we would get to do this as just 24 hours later our daughter was born. We will always remember the chocolate cake from John Lewis that day. We have been back as a family many times but now as a family of 4 we can not carry on the tradition due to the very sad closing of the store. Our youngest daughter has not had the opportunity to share in these happy little moments due to the Pandemic.

"Shops are more that just for buying things they are full of memories too! Please help this family make many more wonderful memories "

One person said: "This newly refurbished John Lewis store should not be closed , it is the heart of Queensgate and has always been well supported by many loyal customers , it's closure will be a terrible loss for the town ."

While another added: "My family have always been loyal and happy John Lewis customers and after a year of shielding I was really looking forward to getting into the improved Peterborough store. I'm sad that now I may never get into any JLP store again, the distance is just too far, I am not interested in online shopping and feel customers like me are being ignored and unappreciated."

Members of staff at the store have also signed it, One wrote: "I work in John Lewis and have put a lot of blood and sweat into the refit and the branch hasn't even had the chance to build and prove itself due to lockdown."

To sign the petition, visit https://www.change.org/p/john-lewis-save-john-lewis-peterborough?recruiter=526559345&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial&utm_term=psf_combo_share_initial&recruited_by_id=871b0540-01a7-11e6-ad5c-1f2451e6b6f6