WARRINGTON has been awarded £100,000 to help tackle the issue of empty shops in the town centre.
The money, unveiled by local government minister Grant Shapps today, comes from a new £10 million “High Street Innovation Fund.”
It is designed to support new business start-ups, while bringing empty properties into use through community or alternative uses.
It is part of the government’s response to retail guru Mary Portas’s report on reinvigorating the British high street.
Andy Farrall, executive director of environment and regeneration at the borough council said: “The money from the High Street Innovation Fund is both timely and welcomed. The issue of empty high street shops is a national problem however this council and its partners are determined to tackle this problem locally and bring empty properties back into active use.”
As a result of the Portas report, the government has pledged to create 12 “Portas Pilots” – towns and cities that would share a £1 million handout to test her recommendations.
Warrington is one of more than 150 towns bidding to be one of them and the trial areas are expected to be announced in May.
Other North West towns bidding to be pilots include Altrincham, Frodsham and Preston.
Pictures show the empty shops in Warrington town centre.
7 Comments
The situation hasn’t been helped by extending Golden Square, plus the failure to improve the traffic situation/highway infrastructure.. Free parking might be an incentive as well.
It is clear to residents that OUR Council do not want shoppers. Until they change their attitude to parking, road infrastructure and other incentives nothing is going to get better. Empty shops means loss of revenue but, of course, WBC don’t consider this be a problem since they are good at spending money that they haven’t got! No wonder shoppers visit other surrounding Towns to shop. OUR Council should try speaking the the Council in Bury to see a thriving Best in Britain Market together with a thriving Town Centre. Maybe, just maybe, they will learn something.
I agree we have to make it easier for people to come into town and park, free parking would be a incentive
Doubt it CTP
The Labour Council encouraging retail expansion outside the centre – e.g.next to Alban retail park and at the former Fordton leisure Centre does not help the. town centre.
Warrington’s solution to empty units is to build more!!! Wouldn’t it be a better idea to scrap the time square regeneration project and concentrate on renovating Bridge street….but that would be too logical!
When the new market area behind boots is transformed Bridge street will once again find itself at the centre and the problem of empty shops will be no more. It’s a long term goal that can’t be fixed over night. Give it time and they will come. Widnes, st helens, Runcorn have got nothing so we’ll be at the front as the best town centre in the area.