Petition launched following 'heartless' decision to move Big Issue seller from his usual spot
A petition has been set up to reinstate a Big Issue sellers pitch.
Amar will be a familiar face to regular shoppers at M&S at Congleton Retail Park, having been selling the Big Issue there for over a decade.
However, he has recently been asked to move away from his usual spot due to company policy.
This prompted local resident Matt Tweats to launch a petition.
He said: "Whenever I visit, it's almost a ritual to stop and chat with Amar, ask after his day, and let my children soak in his immersive stories.
"Amar is not just a familiar face; he's a part of the very fabric of our local retail park experience, making it a warmer and more welcoming place.
"This decision feels heartless and disregards the rapport Amar has built with the Congleton community, he even helps draw customers into the M&S branch.
"He greets everyone with nothing but a smile and a friendly wave, never pressuring anyone for money, just offering genuine kindness and a touch of human connection."
In the week since the petition was launched on change.org, it has been signed more than 230 times.
It is understood the decision to ask Amar to move was due to M&S company policies.
However, Matt is hoping that this petition can drive the supermarket chain to come to an agreement with Big Issue.
He added: "Moving Amar is not just a frustration for him but for all of us who visit M&S regularly.
"It's a break in tradition and community spirit.
"Amar's presence is a local delight, an element that makes our shopping trips all the more special, especially for those of us with children who have grown to see him as a friend in the community.
"Moving him away from the store into the elements is almost inhumane - he's just trying to earn a living for his young family."
M&S have been approached for comment.
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