East Lancashire council bosses hit back at empty shops report (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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East Lancashire council bosses hit back at empty shops report
6:00pm Wednesday 8th February 2012 in News
WRONG FIGURES Coun Dave Harling
COUNCIL bosses have hit back at a report about the number of empty shops in East Lancashire.
Figures released by the Local Data Company, which tracks retail trends in the UK, showed more than a quarter of shops in Blackburn were empty last year – the national average was 14.3 per cent.
The report shows Blackburn had the fourth worst rate for empty shops in the country and predicted the state of local high streets would continue to worsen over the coming year.
In November, the rate of empty shops in Burnley stood at 17.3 per cent, 0.4 per cent less than the figure for the previous six months.
Coun Dave Harling, Blackburn with Darwen Council executive member for regeneration, said the figures were based on old information and the situation was not as bad as the survey portrayed.
He said: “Obviously the people behind this survey are totally out of touch with what’s happening in Blackburn.
"We physically check vacant shops in the town centre every quarter and we know the figures are wrong.
“Our new Mall and fantastic market are drawing visitors in from across Pennine Lancashire.”
He said the actual figure was about 9.3 per cent and four per cent in The Mall, which had experienced a record number of visitors over the Christmas period.
Colin Hills, Burnley town centre manager, said despite the large number of vacant shops, investors were showing interest in expanding in the town.
He said: “Charter Walk shopping centre recently got the go-ahead for a £3million investment, indicating its confidence in Burnley.
"Planning permission has been granted to develop a £40million retail complex in Curzon Street that will expand the shopping centre.
“Times are tough everywhere and we’re not immune, but Burnley Council will continue to work with businesses to make Burnley an attractive place to shop, visit and work.”
Ribble Valley Council said it was aware of 17 vacant shops.
In Pendle the rate was just over 11 per cent but in Hyndburn, the figure was much higher at 22.5 per cent.
Comments(12)
living the end times in BB1
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7:11pm Wed 8 Feb 12
Kevin, Colne
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7:15pm Wed 8 Feb 12
Last December the Chairman of a property vulture fund said:
‘Economic weakness carries with it the attendant risk of rising tenant defaults and vacancy rates and it would be naïve to rule out a fall in values in such circumstances. However, it is critical to distinguish between those assets that might suffer a temporary dip in cash flow and those in structural decline; only the former will recover as and when the economy recovers. With this in mind we continue to avoid secondary retail property. Many shopping centres and high streets have in our view a rising embedded vacancy rate that is yet to be adequately reflected in market pricing.’
When I read this I remembering thinking that this statement would prove to be highly accurate.
The problems in many centres are long-term and structural in nature. Many councils now a have real crisis on their hands as another wave of market readjustment comes into view.
Keep Darwen Green
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7:19pm Wed 8 Feb 12
Noiticer
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7:34pm Wed 8 Feb 12
living the end times in BB1
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7:40pm Wed 8 Feb 12
useyourhead
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8:09pm Wed 8 Feb 12
living the end times in BB1 wrote:in case your right.... Merry Christmas :)
So the council as got 25% of the white collar workers to throw onto benefits and 25% of the empty shops to fill before the elite kull 90% of the worlds population.By the time 21/12/12 gets here there wont be anybody else left to witness the end of the world.And all this is because the public sector workers demanded huge salaries and pensions from tax payers who couldn't afford to keep warm in their final days on earth.
Your ferret stinks
says...
8:26pm Wed 8 Feb 12
living the end times in BB1
says...
8:42pm Wed 8 Feb 12
useyourhead wrote:The nukes will be flying before soon so happy easter pal.
living the end times in BB1 wrote:in case your right.... Merry Christmas :)
So the council as got 25% of the white collar workers to throw onto benefits and 25% of the empty shops to fill before the elite kull 90% of the worlds population.By the time 21/12/12 gets here there wont be anybody else left to witness the end of the world.And all this is because the public sector workers demanded huge salaries and pensions from tax payers who couldn't afford to keep warm in their final days on earth.
Cha'mone MF
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7:38am Thu 9 Feb 12
Keep Darwen Green wrote:Ha ha ha!!!
Steve right in the afternoon
.....or an 1980's contestant from Bullseye.
NoPolitics
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9:31am Thu 9 Feb 12
Izanears
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10:47am Thu 9 Feb 12
Noiticer wrote:Over 90% of the souvenirs and other merchandise for the Olympic games is being made abroad. 4000 BMW's are being leased to ferry officials around the Games. An American compnay has been given the contract to print the tickets. Workers from Eastern Europe were used to build the stadia and other sites and much of what they earned was sent home. And the powers that be then have the gall to tell us that the Games will be good for Britain.
It's not empty shops we should be worrying about but emty factories not producing goods 'Made in UK'. Shops by and large employ low paid assistants selling imported goods - of little advantage to UKplc.
beardy1967 says...
7:00pm Wed 8 Feb 12