KINGSGATE CENTRE manager Neil Mackie is "quietly optimistic" that Debenhams and all of his retailers will re-open when the coronavirus lockdown ends.

The retail giant has the anchor store in the Dunfermline shopping centre and said on Monday that it would file for a "light touch" administration with the aim of resuming trading when government restrictions were lifted.

Asked what it would mean for the Kingsgate if it did shut, Mr Mackie replied: "I think you know the answer to that.

"I tend to be a glass half-full person though so I'm quietly optimistic.

"My view is not to focus on Debenhams but the retail business nationally as every store group is doing exactly the same, putting staff in furlough and negotiating with landlords to minimise their occupation and operational costs.

"If you look at it in personal terms, if you or I found our income stream was dropping you'd look at what you could do to minimise costs. What they're doing is good business sense."

Debenhams, which opened in the Kingsgate in 2008, has 142 stores which are currently closed and around 20,000 workers, most of whom are being paid under the government’s furlough scheme.

Dunfermline and West Fife MP Douglas Chapman described the news as "extremely concerning" and has written to the UK government to "see if a rescue package can be found" and what assurances could be given to employees.

He added: "More locally, Debenhams is a prominent feature for Dunfermline’s shoppers and a major employer and so if it were to close, it would have a devastating impact on people in the area and small businesses in the town who benefit from the footfall Debenhams brings.

“This is a very real demonstration of how difficult this period is for all businesses, big and small, and I hope a solution can be found to save the business and protect 22,000 jobs including those in its Dunfermline store.”

Announcing their intention to appoint administrators, the company said: "This move will protect Debenhams from the threat of legal action that could have the effect of pushing the business into liquidation while its 142 UK stores remain closed in line with the government’s current advice regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The group is making preparations to resume trading in its stores once government restrictions are lifted."

Debenhams, which also entered administration last year, said it continued to trade online and all customer orders, gift cards and returns were being accepted and processed as normal.

Mr Mackie said: "It's a national decision which makes good corporate sense.

"It happens all the time. If you take away the COVID-19 situation, you'd be surprised how many of these pre-packaged CVAs there are.

"It's a standard business move."

He said he was optimistic about Debenhams re-opening in Dunfermline and added: "I would say that for all my retailers.

"There may be the odd casualty but I'm standing in the mall just now looking at all the big names and they've all done very sensible business moves.

"It's going to be great when the restrictions are lifted, to see everything back to normal, all the lights on and shopfronts vibrant again."

As for the Kingsgate, he said: "Right now, we're trying to keep the place open and as safe as humanly possible. I've been in the business for a long time and it's like flipping everything on its head, we're not marketing and we're keeping a lid on footfall to keep the centre as safe as we can.

"There are five stores open. Boots is the big driver, then there's Marks and Spencer, Superdrug, Holland & Barrett and Poundland, all the essentials.

"The mall seems empty but footfall is still about 18,000 a week. OK, that's down from the usual 150,000 a week but it shows there are still people about and they're all being sensible about it."

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