Market towns warned over empty stores

MARKET TOWN communities in North Yorkshire have been warned not to be complacent over high street viability amid concerns over empty stores.

Hambleton District Council, it has emerged, has applied for a share of a £675m Government funding, aimed at improving vacant premises above shops in Northallerton. It followed a fourmonth study of all the district’s market towns, which concluded most were fairing well when compared to high streets nationwide.

But despite reassurances, councillors have warned, more must be done to boost footfall, brighten up empty stores, and encourage pop-up shops.

“Northallerton and our other market towns have less empty shops than would be the average, but we still really feel it could be better,” warned Coun David Hugill, deputy chairman of the authority’s scrutiny committee.

“The thing that really frustrates residents and shoppers is to see empty shops and that is something we are working hard to make sure doesn’t happen.”

It comes after a special focus by The Yorkshire Post shone a spotlight on challenges faced across the region, with towns hit hard by the loss of several major chains. Even in York, with the country’s second lowest vacancy rate, its enduring vitality has been attributed to thriving independents.

The new study concluded that vacancy rates in all the district’s market towns were below the national average of 12.7 per cent, with Northallerton at half of that. But, Coun Kevin Hardisty told members, that did not mean communities could rest. “We cannot be complacent,” he warned. “We need to reduce those figures in every single market town.”

The committee’s deputy chairman, Councillor David Hugill said the council was examining footfall to get a stronger grasp of the issues, but that did not necessarily translate into how much money was being spent in an area.