I was surprised to see in last week’s Guardian that Labour and Conservative councillors are blaming each other (and Brexit) for the failure to let the shops in Barons Quay.
The failure is neither theirs nor Brexit and the blame should go on those who recommended the go ahead of a 1990s type shopping centre into a town that already had too much retail floor space.
They should focus now on what needs to be done to get it let and the one thing they could do to rapidly improve its chances would be to relocate the market from Weaver Square next to Asda.
If they decide to do this then I strongly advise that they bring in a markets’ expert to do it rather like Manchester City Council did for the Arndale Centre and Gorton Markets. Manchester turned these two very dreary markets into vibrant centres which brought in new life, business and shoppers.
If the same could be done in Northwich not only would we have a fantastic new market hall but the resulting increased footfall into Barons Quay would help let the remaining shops.
I have been in the business of letting retail space for over 50 years and I know that everything lets in the end but it will take hard work and some clever thinking to do it.
John G Fifield, FRICS Chairman, Fifield Glyn Ltd
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