FIGURES on empty shops in Barnard Castle have been challenged by a shop owner amid concerns over the future of the high street.
A survey by Durham County Council last autumn calculated the town’s vacancy rate stood at 4.9 per cent – equating to nine empty units out of 182.
The report listed the town as having “the lowest vacancy rate out of all the traditional town centres in County Durham” excluding out of town retail parks like Tindale.
However, a separate informal survey carried out in the town in the past month has found the figure to stand at 7.8 per cent.
Closures since the authority survey, including Cooplands Bakery and the former Dress Agency, in Market Place, may explain the disparity in the figures.
But Emma Rowell, owner of the Cafe No 15, on Market Place, feared the future was not too bright for town businesses. The latest blow to the town is the closure of NatWest’s branch next month.
Ms Rowell said: “People who sell clothes and other goods are being taken up by takeaways – we have got quite a few takeaways now and that’s something which is
now reflected in the vacancy rates.
“Businesses are talking about recession and the idea they might have to close – those who have been here for years – for the simple reason that people are not spending their money.
“Most people in the town work during the day and most employers in the town are offering minimum wage and that minimum wage is becoming the maximum wage.”
Barnard Castle was listed as falling 6.2 per cent below the national vacancy average of 11.1 per cent, according to the county council’s figures last autumn.
Across County Durham, 12.5 per cent of shops are vacant – 1.4 per cent above the national average. Bishop Auckland has the worst vacancy rate in the county at 21.2 per cent.
The county council’s report said the number of hot food takeaways in Barnard Castle was holding steady at 3.8 per cent as of late last year.
However, the statistics showed that financial and professional services in the town were “continuing on a downward trend” with 19 units in total – the lowest level in the town for six years.
Elsewhere in Barnard Castle, restaurants and cafes remained unchanged from 2016/17 levels at 13 units (7.1 per cent) with drinking establishments also the same with ten units in total (5.5 per cent).
Ms Rowell said she thought it was important for the town to retain its shopping experience but blamed wider forces of austerity, poor transport links and business rates for presenting difficulties.
She added: “People want an experience but if all our independent traders shut – why bother coming to Barney?
“Business rates seem terribly unfair in Barney – it’s very good for very small businesses to have a nice rate but many don’t fall into that.
“Some of the big names do not have to pay business rates but the independent traders do. If we want to keep this place unique and make it a shopping experience, these are the people we need to preserve.”
