More people out in the town as Rotherham bucks national trend

While major cities have seen a drop in footfall rates, many smaller regional towns such as Rotherham have seen the number of people in their town centres rise. Rotherham's rate for September 2011 has risen by a dramatic 32.3% compared to the same month last year.

A range of initiatives are helping drive the increase in shoppers and help reduce vacancy rates for town centre shops on the primary shopping streets which currently stands at 14.4% - down 3.4% on July 2009. New stores have been opening regularly including just last week with the launch of the Bitter Sweet Boutique selling a special range of gifts, jewellery, furniture and items for the home. 

Those initiatives include the hugely popular Shop Local loyalty card, which currently has over 11,000 subscribers, making it one of the most popular of its kind in the country, helping to spearhead a retail renaissance in Rotherham town centre.

With over 100 town centre shops signed up to provide discounts and offers to cardholders, since its inception last year, the Shop Local Scheme is a significant success.

This summer also saw a range of town centre events and the opening of the Minster Gardens public open space in the heart of the town centre.

Cabinet Member for Town Centres, Economic Growth and Prosperity, Councillor Gerald Smith, said: "These figures reflect the positive changes that have been made in the town centre to help traders fight back in these challenging economic circumstances.

"Rotherham has to offer something different to shoppers and an environment they find welcoming. To do that we have encouraged small business growth, found innovative ways to help local traders and invested in the infrastructure.

"The benefits of that are now being seen although, of course, there is still a way to go. With thousands of shoppers showing their commitment to Rotherham we are confident the town centre will continue to develop."