THE number of shoppers visiting Shrewsbury’s Darwin Centre in the week leading up to Christmas was up by more than 37,000 on the same time last year, new figures have revealed.
The week starting December 19 saw more than 262,000 people throng into the shopping centre – a 15 per cent increase on the number of shoppers on the same week in2010, bosses have said.
According to retail bosses there was a similar increase in numbers in the Pride Hill and Riverside Centres though figures for them have not yet been collated.
The figures were also up on the previous week’s numbers when more than 246,000 people passed through the Darwin and Pride Hill Centres but in that final week the footfall smashed through the quarter of a million mark to put a smile on the face of many retailers.
Russell Hall, operations manager for the Darwin, Pride Hill and Riverside Centres said: “It has gone very well and we’re very encouraged by the footfall figures which are up on last year.
“Shrewsbury is a popular place for people to shop and the Darwin, Pride Hill and Riverside are very convenient, there’s plenty of parking as well as access from the bus station and it’s under cover too and that definitely helps in the winter especially.
“We are at the heart of an area with a population of almost half a million and the town has a lot to attract people and part of that is the varied retail offer which combines major chains with independents.”
He added that the post-Christmas sales have continued to attract shoppers to the town’s centres.
He said: “It’s been very encouraging and has shown that people do have money to spend and will spend it if they think there are bargains to be had.
“There has also been plenty of shopping activity since Christmas with the sales starting in earnest and it has continued to be busy here.”
Meanwhile, members of Shrewsbury Business Chamber claimed this week that the town centre was coping ‘very well’ despite the tough economic conditions.
Simon Airey of Corner Exotics in Shrewsbury said: “Owners of commercial property in Shrewsbury town centre have had a very good Christmas. The town is looking better than ever with the mix of businesses and less empty properties.”
By Catherine Ferris