Shopping centre's car boot plan
Kidderminster's Swan Shopping Centre plans to stage Sunday car boot sales in its car park, bringing a new boost to the town.
Officials believe sales will also help lure visitors to the Severn Valley Railway at Comberton Hill, into the town.
They hope an increase in weekend visitors will have a knock-on effect by persuading people to return on weekdays to do their shopping.
The move was welcomed by Kidderminster Town Centre Partnership – which promotes economic prosperity – as it could attract more shoppers into the town on Sundays when it is often described as a ghost town.
The Swan Shopping Centre management applied to the district council to run the car boot sales on the upper and lower levels of the fourth floor and the lower level of the fifth floor.
Council officers will decide next month whether the scheme must go before the planning committee.
Town Centre Partnership chairman Peter Picken said:"This is another good move for the town centre which is starting to turn the corner on the trade front.
"Car boot sales are very popular and can attract hundreds of people from all over the region.
"We know the multi-storey car park has plenty of room on a Sunday so it seems like a very good business venture.
"Those extra shoppers might go into the town centre and spend money there too."
The town centre has had a mini renaissance with several new stores opening in the town centre.
Last month a new smoothie bar opened in the Rowland Hill shopping centre and two new Subway fast food restaurants are set to open in the High Street and Comberton Place.
Two new businesses are also set to move into the Swan Shopping Centre during the summer.
