Councillor's fears for town centre (From Thurrock Gazette)

Councillor's fears for town centre

6:30am Wednesday 30th January 2013 in News

A COUNCILLOR is worried about the viability of Corringham town centre after Blockbuster went into administration.

The store in Corringham has not yet been earmarked for closure, but Cllr Phil Smith, ward councillor for Stanford East and Corringham Town, has raised concerns for the future of the town and other High Streets across the borough.

He said: “This will be a blow. We lost the shoe shop Barratts last year and Thomas Cook. We have now got the possibility of losing Blockbusters. “There are empty shops in the town. In the short term, who is going to come into these?

“You only have to look at the recent past, where Corringham town centre had a real issue getting funding for the Christmas lights. It was thanks to hard work from a special committee that we got lights last year.

“I have confidence the town centre has a long term future, but it does need residents, traders and the council to support it to maintain its potential.”