A Conservative councillor is demanding answers from council bosses over empty units at Barons Quay in Northwich.
It comes amid fears that companies expressing an interest in taking on premises there are being turned away.
Cllr Lynn Gibbon – deputy leader of the Conservative group at Cheshire West and Chester Council – said regenerating the town and attracting businesses should be a priority, particularly given the length of time some of the units have been empty.
Cllr Gibbon is a councillor for Marbury and is also the council’s shadow cabinet member for housing, regeneration and growth.
She believes prospective businesses are being turned away – with too much focus being put on housing the former market at Barons Quay.
She said: “We are in a situation whereby there are about eight vacant units at the site which has been the case for many years.
“I know from speaking to one business that they were very keen to explore moving to the area and it seemed like a fantastic leisure opportunity for the town centre.
“The proposal was for a bowling alley which included two other leisure activities – an escape room and laser tag – and they were happy to start negotiations with the space available.
“After eight years of empty units, we should be grasping all opportunities that come our way and biting hands off to fill these units.
“Businesses know their requirements and what they need – so why am I being told, by council officers, that the location is not suitable?
“Surely if this were the case the business would not have expressed an interest in the first place?”
Cllr Lynn Gibbon
Cllr Gibbon added: “I do not understand why the company’s initial approach was not met with enthusiasm and an invitation extended for an initial discussion.
“I am not saying I don’t want a new market there, as I do think there is adequate space to accommodate both – creating a win/win situation.
“I am fully supportive of the market, but I do not want to see other businesses turned away – especially leisure opportunities – before proper conversations are had.”
She has now written to chief executive Andrew Lewis and leader of the authority Cllr Louise Gittins to express concern over the issue.
Cllr Gibbon has called for answers on how many other businesses have shown an interest in moving to Barons Quay but were met with a less-than-welcoming response.
She said: “It makes no sense to me the way the council is behaving.
“I will keep doing everything I can to fight to attract businesses to Northwich.”
Barons Quay is set to cost taxpayers £200,000 this year due to the number of empty units, with the council forced to offset its losses using cash that was held back to deal with the pandemic.
A council spokesperson told So Cheshire that no legitimate interest has been turned away, and that the vacant units at Barons Quay are widely marketed.
They said: “The council’s aim is to provide a vibrant mix of leisure together with national and local food and non-food retail.
“Over the years a number of bowling alley operators have been approached.
“However, as none of the units had been specifically designed for this purpose, we were unable to meet their requirements, as they do not provide enough floor space on one level.
“More recently, a tenpin bowling operator with potentially a different operating model has been provided with plans of a unit split over two floors to see whether this could work for their business model and we are waiting for their response on this.
“No tenpin bowling interest, or indeed any other legitimate interest, has been turned away.
“The vacant units at Barons Quay are widely marketed by a market-leading leasing agent in the UK – focused more on leisure, rather than retail which is not experiencing the same growth.
“All types of use are targeted, and the council welcomes any proposals for leisure and experiential uses into Barons Quay that will drive footfall and provide a day out for local families and visitors from further afield.
“There are currently four units under offer, including two with a leisure focus.”
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