Shopping centre to close doors at end of the month

The Keel Row shopping Centre in Blyth is closing at the end of this month

BLYTH’S Keel Row Shopping Centre will close its doors for the final time on February 29.

Although concerns have been raised about the centre of Blyth becoming a “ghost town” when Keel Row is lost, the council has pointed out the centre has been “struggling” for a number of years and is no longer commercially viable.

Just eight of the 20 units in the centre are currently being let to commercial tenants, while 25% of the lettable floor space is producing a commercial rent.

Despite this, mayor of Blyth Coun Warren Taylor and Croft ward representative Coun Kath Nisbett both expressed sadness at the closure.

Coun Taylor said: “As sad as it is to see the Keel Row close, we are optimistic that the developments taking place on the Market Place such as the culture venue, the proposed higher education facility and a new hotel, will provide a boost to retailers in the town centre and encourage other businesses to invest.”

Coun Nisbett, who has campaigned for retailer Bonmarche to stay in the town beyond the closure of Keel Row, added: “I’m very sad that the shopping centre is closing and we’ve all tried our best to keep businesses in the town.

“The town centre has a host of excellent businesses and small independent traders, and recent new entrants have improved what’s on offer. Looking forward, I hope everyone will keep visiting the town as there is lots on offer and bigger things to come.”

The shopping centre is set to be demolished ahead of major redevelopment as part of the ongoing Energising Blyth Programme, bringing new facilities to the town centre.

The main focus of the redevelopment will be the second phase of the Energy Central Campus, the Energy Central Institute – a “cutting edge” higher education facility supporting the growing clean energy industry in the town.

Northumberland County Council’s cabinet member for business, Coun Wojciech Ploszaj, said: “While this does mark the end of an era, retail remains an important part of the town centre and we’d encourage people to continue to visit while we improve the town.

“Anyone that has visited Blyth recently will see all the regeneration work that is taking place. From the Stem-focused Energy Central Learning Hub taking shape at Port of Blyth to the new cultural venue work starting on Market Place.

“The Keel Row acquisition means we can bring forward more major development in the town centre including investment in educational, innovation and cultural activities.

“This will make the town a more welcoming, safe, and popular place to visit, attracting a wide range of people wanting to work, learn and enjoy all the town has to offer.”

Tony Quinn, Director of Technology Development at Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult and vice chair of the Town Deal Board, added: “The purchase of the site paves the way for the development of the hugely exciting Energy Central Campus project that will bring the cutting edge research facilities we have in Blyth closer to the region’s colleges and universities, creating learning opportunities and jobs, through apprenticeships and partnerships.”

The council has said that the Keel Row site will continue to include town centre parking, as well as a potential hotel to support the town’s “growing economy”. A spokesman for the council said: “We will be engaging with stakeholders and the public in the summer to discuss design proposals.”

Furthermore, the statue of Willie Carr – an iconic strongman who lived in the town in the 18th century – will be stored safely until a longer-term plan for the statue in Blyth is developed.

Phase one of the Energy Central Campus, the Energy Central Learning Hub, is set to open this year after ground was broken last July. It will deliver STEM education and sectorrelated vocational and work-based learning in high-quality specialist training facilities to connect the community to the vast opportunities available within the clean growth sector centred in Blyth.