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Wills setback does not spell the end for centre
A rallying cry has gone out in the battle to give a town centre a much-needed shot in the arm.
Rushden was last week reeling from the shock news that the town's remaining flagship store, Wills, faces closure.
The owners of the department store in High Street revealed they have entered into talks with staff about the future of the business.
The news followed the closure of the majority of the Peter Crisp store in December and the revelation that plans for the new leisure centre off Bedford Road had been put on hold over funding concerns.
But East Northamptonshire Council deputy leader Steven North said the town still had a lot going for it and it was not all doom and gloom.
He said: "The announcement over Wills was a shock to us all.
"There hasn't been a council meeting since for us to discuss it but we must pull together now and work on the proposals put forward by the Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment and build on that."
The foundation outlined a vision for the town based on making the High Street more attractive, developing areas of the town centre and trying to attract small, specialist shops.
Cllr North said: "Rushden still has a lot going for it – there is a variety of independent stores and free parking for instance.
"We will concentrate on attracting those smaller retailers. It's not all doom and gloom."
Wellingborough and Rushden MP Peter Bone said: "The news of Wills comes after the closure of Peter Crisp and the loss of the Manor Park leisure centre plan, but there is a vibrant council in Rushden and if we all work together we can continue to try and regenerate the town.
"The town council is very strong and I'm sure it will work to come up with positive proposals."
Mr Bone said with the cutbacks nationally there would be no money from central government to pump into Rushden but he hoped private investors could be attracted to the town.
Mr Bone said he felt there would soon be positive news on the Peter Crisp site, which has been empty since December, but Cllr North said nothing had been firmed up and there was no immediate news on the site.
The family-run Wills store, which sells ladies' fashion, menswear, shoes, lingerie, accessories and homewares, is the oldest store in Rushden. It opened in 1922 in Park Road before its move to High Street and it used to have branches in Wellingborough and Kettering.
A staff consultation is continuing.
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Weather for Kettering
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
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