'Store will take town centre trade'

Published 6 Sep 2010 08:00 1 Comment

A NEW shop may join the Peel Centre despite fears it could draw shoppers away from the town centre.

Land Securities Properties, which owns the centre, was given permission by Bracknell Forest Council’s planning committee to convert two units into one larger one, to cater for a new retailer, named in the meeting as possibly being TK Maxx.

But Bracknell Regeneration Partnership, the organisation planning to redevelop the town centre, had objected to the bid on the grounds that the Peel Centre off Skimped Hill Lane is outside the main shopping area and would undermine the viability of the town centre. And TK Maxx told the News this week that nothing was confirmed about a store in Bracknell.

But Cllr Andy Blatchford said at the meeting on Thursday: “If they (BRP) are concerned about the viability of the town centre then they should get on with it.”

Cllr Dale Birch said: “Maybe it would be the catalyst to encourage other retailers to come in.”

However, Cllr Shelagh Pyle said: “I hear what you are saying but I have concern because we do need retailers inside our core centre. This is taking them out. It might be classed as part of the town centre but it is not the actual heart of our town. I would love to see people who are coming in and using our town first.

“We desperately need to regenerate our town for everyone, for Bracknell. When we are moving things outside, we are not encouraging that.”

Helen Barnett, Marketing Manager Bracknell Regeneration Partnership, said after the meeting: “With the vibrancy of the town centre being our main focus, we are evidently not supporters of anything that could potentially dilute the town centre offering.

“However, while we cannot speculate on what retailers may or may not be going where, the Peel Centre application demonstrates that retail interest in Bracknell is strong."

Melissa Winsor, spokeswoman for Land Securities Properties, said: “We are currently in negotiations with a number of retailers who are interested in joining the Peel Centre and we hope to be able to announce the letting in the near future.”

TK Maxx spokeswoman Helen Gunter said: “We are constantly looking at sites around the country but as far as Bracknell is concerned, we don’t have any confirmed plans.”

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This article appeared in Villager 02 Sep 10

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

• 

  MikeHarrison
  7 posts
  Sep 16, 21:58
  Report comment

  I cannot believe the Bracknell Regeneration Partnership has the cheek to try to dissuade TK Maxx from coming here.
  
  They have messed about for 20 years and done nothing to regnerate the town. For goodness sake, now they want to try to put off retailers that DO want to do something - please come here TK Maxx and ignore the pitiful bleatings from the BRP.
  
  May I echo Cllr Blatchford's comments about regeneration, indeed the whole of Bracknell is screaming: GET ON WITH IT!
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

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