War of words over shopping centre as cutbacks hit home
AFRESH war of words has erupted over Sefton Council’s decision to buy the Strand shopping centre 18 months ago.
The council bought Bootle’s Strand centre in a deal – thought to have cost around £32m – which returned the shopping centre to local ownership for the first time in many years.
But the move has been criticised by some of the borough’s Conservative and Lib Dem councillors, along with Southport’s MP.
Some politicians and residents say that it is unfair on other parts of the borough, or that the cash-strapped council should not have made the purchase at all.
Southport MP Damien Moore said: “The decision to spend £32.5m on the run-down Strand shopping centre in Bootle is a waste, and the money would be better spent in Southport.”
Leader of Southport Lib Dems John Wright said the purchase was “evidence for how much Southport loses out”.
On Twitter, Martyn Barber, deputy chair of Sefton Conservatives, wrote: “I’d genuinely like to ask Sefton Labour do they think it is acceptable that the council can spend £32m on Bootle Strand but nothing in Crosby, Maghull or Formby? Do you think it is fair to local taxpayers?”
But Sefton Council has said that none of the money used to buy the Strand has come from council tax payers.
Instead, the deal was fully funded through a loan and comes at no expense to Sefton’s residents.
The income generated, the council said, will more than cover the loan repayments and the centre’s running costs, and will create much-needed funding to support local services.
Council leader Ian Maher said: “(The purchase) pays for itself, as well as bringing a substantial surplus income for the council to help us try to alleviate Tory cuts.
“Control of the Strand helps us with our town centre regeneration plan, we’ve brought the centre back into local ownership and away from offshore hedge fund ownership.
“The purchase of the Strand is a step to ensure we can continue to deliver the services our residents need in the future.”
Experts currently estimate more than 200 UK shopping centres are at risk of going bust.
Nelson Blackley, from the National Retail Research Knowledge Exchange Centre, said that if centres close, particularly in towns, it can be “catastrophic” to the local area.