AS we are all aware the permanent closure of John Lewis is a huge blow to York.

However, I wonder how many locals never shopped there?

I've lived in York all my life and I've never even been to the Vangarde shopping park.

My best friend who lives in Hull had been to John Lewis on occasions but told me it was just to kill time and to browse at the products he couldn't afford.

According to John Lewis, the York store had lost money every year since it opened.

Over 4,000 people may have signed the petition to keep the store open but names on a petition do not give a company an income.

I used to visit the Odeon cinema regularly and when its closure was announced around 10,000 people signed the petition to keep it open and yet whenever I saw a film there the cinema was poorly attended and cannot have made a profit at the time.

Let's hope all the John Lewis staff find alternative employment and that the retail situation improves.

However, we must remember that all companies need appropriate levels of business and income or else they will fail.

Dale R Edwards,

Newborough Street,

Bootham, York