Concessions needed to fill empty shops

Conservative councillors have called on the Lib Dem Council to offer concessions to encourage independent retailers to take up empty units in the borough.

Councillor Ann Metcalfe asked: “What is being done to help regenerate empty shops across the borough? She added: “What practical help is being offered to encourage independent retailers.”

Finance portfolio holder Councillor Greg Couzens explained that the money allocated by central government to address the problem of empty units was “not enough to open even one shop on Yorkshire Street.”

However, the council was looking at acquiring “match funding” via the Council’s leisure trust, Link4Life. Councillor Couzens explained that money was available for “creative industries” and Link4Life could potentially help in acquiring such money.

Councillor Metcalfe called on the Council to offer incentives in the form of "concessions".