Halton retailers are attracting new visitors (From Runcorn and Widnes World)
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Flourishing Halton retailers buck the recession
8:10am Thursday 21st March 2013 in News By Barbara Jordan
The opening of Marks and Spencer three years ago
FLOURISHING retailers are helping Halton to buck the trend despite the recessiion.
It is exactly three years since the £25 million Widnes Shopping Park opened and a year since the neighbouring £40m Tesco Extra store started trading, creating 400 new jobs.
Flagship store Marks & Spencer hired 108 staff and hundreds more were taken on by BHS Home, Outfit, Boots, New Look, Costa Coffee, River Island, Poundstretcher and the Carphone Warehouse.
Pets At Home launched a £298,000 store last month and Topps Tiles, which used to trade in Lugsdale Road, is returning to Tanhouse Lane on May 4.
The £10m Hive leisure park is attracting record numbers since the Silver Blades ice rink opened.
Plans to create a £15m retail park on the former P& O site in Tanhouse Lane are set to create 220 jobs at 12 new stores.
Halton Council leader, Clr Rob Polhill said: “We have been very fortunate.
“The town has been doing really well. These shops and the leisure park are attracting people who wouldn’t have come before.”
New developments are also taking shape in Runcorn.
Poundworld moved into Halton Lea last month, creating 30 jobs.
Polar Ford has opened a new showroom beside Asda.
German discount chain Lidl is building a supermarket on the same site, where a family pub and restaurant and other retail units are expected to follow.
Clr Polhill stressed: “We have not forgotten the old town.
“We are hoping to clear the old Crosville site soon and should get some activity there soon.
“We are also talking to developers about other vacant sites.
“We have always promised to do something with Runcorn. It is proving extremely challenging but we are confident investment will happen.
“We have a workforce to be proud of here in Halton. A lot of employers I talk to always mention this.
“We will keep on working hard and hopefully, companies will continue to invest here.”
brumbrums says...
10:46am Thu 21 Mar 13
This comment just shows how utterly useless Halton Council is at attracting investment to Runcorn, a town that has an extremely busy motorway running through it, lies on the banks of the world famous River Mersey, has a leisure canal running straight in to the heart of the Old Town, has the famous Manchester Ship Canal on it’s door step, has a very busy & sort after main line train station & 2 large airports ever side yet Halton Council still can not attract investment. WHAT A BUNCH OF USELES IMBOSEELS YOU ALL ARE