Stockport has more empty shops than anywhere else in the north west, new figures reveal.
More than one in five units are empty in the town centre – doubling from 11.5 per cent in June to 22.4 per cent at the end of last year.
A new report has surveyed thousands of shops nationally to see how the recession is hitting local retailers. It names Stockport as the seventh worst in the country for empty units.
Matthew Hopkinson, from the Local Data Company, which conducts the Shop Vacancy Report report every six months, said the closure of Woolworths a year ago hit Stockport hard.
He added: "Unfortunately, Stockport is a bit like Wolverhampton. It's in the shadow of some other major shopping centres. People go out for a day or half a day shopping now. They don't just pop into town.
"People go to Cheshire Oaks, they go to the Trafford Centre – that's bang on the motorway – and people don't go to Stockport.
"You have to ask yourself: would you go to Stockport rather than Manchester? It's a result of being on the fringe."
What do you think about the state of the town centre? Email us at stockportexpress@menmedia.co.uk .
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Showing comments 1 to 11 and replies | View All
Roy Gregory, Exile (11/02/2010 at 11:34)
If people live in Stockport, why would they want to spend good money to go to Manchester? OK, maybe from Heaton Chapel it's marginal.
KAT0504, WOODLEY, stockport (11/02/2010 at 15:34)
Nick Stone, Macclesfield (11/02/2010 at 20:33)
Roy Gregory, Exile.
Probably because it's better, for shops and parking.
julie hill (11/02/2010 at 21:33)
Simon Says, Cheadle Hulme (11/02/2010 at 22:00)
Roy Gregory, Exile (12/02/2010 at 14:50)
Anyway, a fair point for non Stopfordians, well made.
Nick Stone, Macclesfield (12/02/2010 at 16:44)
cheshirecat80, stockport (15/02/2010 at 10:04)
Pay and display rates are a rip off considering the lack of big names in town now. Its a huge inconvenience always having to make sure you have the correct change and it leaves you clock watching in case your ticket runs out, when you are supposed to be shopping at leisure and enjoying your visit. Stockport Council clearly rely far too much on parking revenues to change anything though, correct me if I'm wrong?
Collette Gammond (21/02/2010 at 13:49)
just to comment on the possibility of primark though -- why do you think that someone will pay more to park up than they'll pay for the clothes on offer in primark ? they'll probably still go to manchester unless the parking fees in stockport are reduced quickly.
Have you seen the stall put up near samuels ?? is this what is considered regeneration ? god help us all.
Collette
Offerton
zarquon, bramhall (22/02/2010 at 14:04)
The shops are empty since people with money would rather be seen elsewhere. Stockport Town Centre looks as attractive as a pig in lipstick.
Beth Winters (18/03/2010 at 18:30)
Once the parking charges have been abolished, Stockport needs to encourage more restaurants & cafe's into Merseyway... then Merseyway can stay open longer so that people can go after work, do some shopping & then get a bite to eat.