University Study Reveals Wrexham Is ‘Convenience Town’

Discussions to encourage shoppers back into the town centre took a step forward today, with the results of a recent town study revealed and a monthly late night shopping event proposed. 

In December 2013 the idea of extending town centre opening hours / opening on a Sunday was mooted in the Town Centre Forum, with Wrexham.com later running a poll to find out what shoppers thought of the idea.

Speaking today at the Town Centre Forum, Chairman Nigel Lewis noted that a number of businesses in the town had been asked if they would take part in regular late night shopping; with the question receiving a mixed response.

Mr Lewis said: “Having the statistic from the survey we spoke to some local businesses. The feeling is some would support late night or a Sunday opening. However a lot feel that in the current climate it is another burden they have to stand without being guaranteed a benefit. It is work in progress and it has not been absolutely discounted.

Mr Lewis went onto add that there are discussions surrounding a monthly late night shopping event that could take place in the town centre, adding that more businesses could get on board with the idea – rather than a regular event.

Reference was also made to a town centre study recently carried out by Manchester University, which has identified twenty five key ‘action points’ for the town centre, with retail opening hours being high on the list.

Last week several local business owners and stakeholders attended a meeting documenting some of the findings of the study. During the meeting it was noted that four types of town had been identified across the country. These include a ‘Comparison Town’ (eg. Manchester), a ‘Speciality Town (eg. Chester or York) a ‘Seaside Town’ and finally a ‘Convenience Town.

Overall Wrexham has been identified as a ‘Convenience Town’, which can serve the local community and add to the convenience.

Speaking at today’s meeting, Manager of Eagles Meadow Kevin Critchley said: “The comparison shopping range is not as full-blooded as elsewhere. The reason to identify the type is because there are different strategies for different types of town. If you can identify the town and where your customers come from, then you can make it.

“In the meeting we said we took our eye off the ball and Wrexham is for the local communities first and what we can pull in from there. We can add to basic offer, but that is not what it’s about. Rather than reinvent wheel, if we identify what Wrexham is, we can go from there.

“There are two aspects, which are vitality and viability. What we are saying is, vitality is dropping but viability is strong so we can bring people in. Could be made 100% better if Wrexham is doing the right things. At the moment convenience and local communities are were we need to concentrate.”

Mr Critchely went onto add that Council Leader Mark Pritchard was strongly behind the ideas that had been put forward regarding the town.