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Rothwell: Traders upset over delays to street project
Traders in Rothwell have been left frustrated by delays in the redevelopment of the town's high street.
Earlier this year Morrisons opened a new store opposite its old site on Commercial Street.
Phase three of the major project was to build new retail units and a health centre on land once occupied by its old base.
But the final stage of development has stalled – leaving a large part of Rothwell's main shopping thoroughfare fenced off and closed to traffic.
Morrisons blame the hold-up on planning delays and a lack of interest from the business community due to the credit crunch. The firm says it expects to have the road open to through traffic by next summer.
Current traders say the delays are affecting their profits by making Commercial Street less attractive to shoppers.
Janet Atha, owner of Granny's Attic store, said: "There is a lot of interest from independent traders but Morrisons only seem interested in getting bigger companies to move here.
"There is a need for different kinds of business in Commercial Street, such as a jewellers, shoe shop and DIY store, to make it more varied for shoppers. We feel like they are dictating what business should come here."
Elaine Taylor, of Taylors Bakery, said: "Without the road being open properly a lot of people don't even know we are here.
"It is disappointing it has not been sorted because 2009 has been a very difficult trading year for everyone anyway."
Rothwell's councillors are also urging the company to speed up completion of the development.
Coun Don Wilson said: "We are very concerned that the people of Rothwell face further delays to the completion of the scheme.
"A meeting has been called with Morrisons and the council's highways and planning departments to get commitment to get the road started in the New Year."
A spokesman for Morrisons said: "This three-phase development has been a very complex process at times and everyone concerned is working very hard to make this happen as soon as possible.
"We hope to have the road completed by the summer of next year but getting interest in the retail units has been a problem because of the current economic situation and we do not really see a light at the end of the tunnel with that.
"Morrisons have worked hard redeveloping Rothwell and Commercial Street from an old 1960s precinct with boarded-up derelict buildings to somewhere much more modern and attractive."
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Wednesday 08 February 2012
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