Town centre braced for a shopping ‘squeeze’
TOWN centre bosses have warned of a retail ‘squeeze’ this year despite figures that show sales in Hemel Hempstead grew in the crucial Christmas period.
Sales were up 1.6 per cent year on year in December – with around £30 million going through the tills – while car park usage was up 6.5 per cent.
But the euro crisis and the loss of a number of stores including La Senza and Hawkin’s Bazaar suggests this year will be the toughest of the past few years.
Vince Williams, chairman of the town centre partnership, said: “It’s going to be a squeeze this year.
“Europe can’t sort itself out. That will have an impact on banks, which affects how much they lend.”
However, he pointed to the Queen’s Jubilee and the Olympics as good opportunities for retailers.
“Although it will be a challenging year I think there will be some good boosts,” he said. “Hemel just needs to promote itself a lot more.”
The figures show 3.07 million people passed through the town centre in December, which is down 0.8 per cent on the year before.
“Looking nationally at town centres around the UK, that is better than average,” Mr Williams said.
He said there should be no more pound shops in the town and called for a planned new supermarket to be sited in Market Square.
“It’s the perfect location for a supermarket,” he said.
“The number of pound shops increased last year. I think as long as it doesn’t increase further it won’t be detrimental to the town.”
Mr Williams also backed calls for an arts and entertainment venue to replace the Pavilion. “That would be central to any plan for the evening economy,” he said.
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Weather for Hemel Hempstead
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Comments
There are 14 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
Abz12345
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 07:37 PMAnd breathe ! Lol
longtime
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 03:13 PMNo one ever seems to understand that the shops are not owned by the Council. They are all owned by private organisations which set the scale of rent. The rates are a different matter, even then your local Council does not have the final say in the matter . . . and it's people like "Livewell" who have contributed to the loss of shops in Hemel Hempstead. Feed your shops with your money, if you don't they die, understand?
Abz12345
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 10:30 AMSurely if the rent wasnt so high to rent a shop people could afford to open up. I no loads of small local buisnesses who would do brilliant in the town but its sky high! Surely lower rent and.more shops is bettter than disused units everywhere????
oldschool
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 07:54 AMMy plan for Hemel town centre. Put the market back where it belongs, in the market square. Heads should have rolled due to the waste of money removing the purpose built market. Don't spend money on "street furniture" we have seats. Once the market stalls are removed people might actually be able to sit on them. We don't need works of art, we just need the rubbish picking up. Market stall holders make the most mess, without them less rubbish. No more poundstores, reduce rents for long term leases and encourage good quality stores to return. Enforce the bus lane in Bridge Street and stop people parking there, you can't drive down there so it's illegal to park, even if you do have a disabled badge.
livewell
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 12:59 PMlongtime, it's lucky I shop in st albans then.
longtime
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 10:54 PMEvery pound spent in Watford buys another nail in the coffin for your local town.
golem11
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 04:45 PMoutofhemel - exactly. I'd like to see a Morrison's or a decent Asda in order to generate a bit more competition for Tesco though.
PrivateDancer
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 01:14 PMDHS, have you been naughty ?
outofhemel
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 11:42 AMOr Golem pop 1000 yards up the road to Tesco's or round the corner to Asda?
golem11
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 11:34 AMHow is a supermarket in the market square going to work exactly? Come in, buy your shopping, then walk up the hill to the NCP with it or run the traffic gauntlet on Waterhouse Street and then dump your trolley in the Water Gardens presumably. Why would anyone want to bother? Far better to use the soon to be vacant Royal Mail site for a supermarket where parking can be included on site.
DHS
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 11:34 AMAwsome. My comment is 'Pending Moderation' even though it contained no swear words or harsh comments.... I must be blacklisted or something..
DHS
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 11:30 AMPending Moderation
PrivateDancer
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 11:29 AMThat's 0.8 percent (all one word, not per cent) of potential fines the council lost from Moor End Road....
outofhemel
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 11:04 AMI'll have whatever he's smoking!
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