Cannock traders issue plea to raise arcade's profile
New shopkeepers in a Staffordshire town centre arcade say they are struggling because few people know it exists – more than a decade after it opened.
Some traders based at High Green Court in Cannock say they are running at a loss because of low footfall and the high cost of rent and rates. The independent traders now want the council to help put the arcade, situated opposite the bowling green, on the town centre map.
Paolo Vecchio, aged 47, who opened Caffe del Nino in June with brother Alfonso, 42 , said they are currently operating at a 33 per cent loss.
He added: "That is before we take the cost of food and wages out. We managed to get four months' rate relief, for which we're grateful but it was a fight."
Kevin Lewis, 58, who opened Hednesford Cycles in July, says his £6,000-a-year business rates bill is too high.
He said: "We need to be turning over £2,000 a month to make the business pay and that's a real struggle here. We pay a massive amount in rates but the council don't even extend the Christmas lights here and the arcade is gated off at 5.30pm. It's maddening."
Marilyn Powell, 47, assistant manager at new sweet shop Picks 'n' Mix, and Pam Smith, of beauty treatment centre Soul Care Aesthetics, have both opened in the last three months.
"It's such a nice arcade – it's a shame people aren't aware of it," said Mrs Smith.
Dress shop owner Lucy Brown has been at High Green for three years.
She said: "Even now, a lot of people still don't know these shops are here."
Councillor Diane Todd, cabinet member for town centre regeneration said:?"These are the kind of independent retailers we want to attract and we will do all we can to keep them."
The arcade is owned by the Pritchard Group which currently has £100million debts. Administrators are selling off some of the group's industrial, office, commercial and residential premises to raise funds. Traders say they are unsure if they will be affected.
