Town centre footfall decline blamed on far-right marches

Footfall figures for 2015 were given during members’ questions at Rotherham Borough Council’s latest full council meeting.

Asked by Cllr Julie Turner, UKIP member for Sitwell, for the latest numbers, Cllr Denise Lelliott, cabinet member for jobs and local economy, said that footfall had dropped by 4.7 per cent.

She added: “We don’t know (why) but we have a strong suspicions this is due to the amount of far right demonstrations that we have had in the town centre.

“I would like to add that since 2010 overall footfall in the town centre has increased by six per cent.

“We are aware there are issues in the town centre and that’s why we have been undertaking, or are hoping to undertake, a town centre masterplan.

“We are doing shopper surveys and our team is going out and working with businesses to see what we can do to increase footfall in the town centre.

“We are trying our best to work with businesses and to invest in our town centre.”

There was some good news for the town centre with the opening of two new High Street arrivals — Maia Interiors and the Sweet Escape Dessert and Ice Cream Parlour.

The two new independents joined Rotherham High Street just as representatives from the town helped to launch this year's Great British High Street competition in London — the contest they triumphed in last year.

The new openings mean High Street is 100 per cent occupied for the first time in several years.