Congleton Town Council responds to high street footfall decline
Our town's smallest form of local government have responded to yesterday's news of an a footfall decline in Congleton town centre.
As reported by Congleton Nub News on Thursday, footfall for the 2021-22 fell by 13% in Congleton.
While part of this period had the Omicron COVID-19 wave, it could be seen as worrying news for our high street.
However, a Congleton Town Council spokesperson responded to Congleton Nub News' request for comment with a rallying, measured response.
"It is disappointing to see that the CEC figures are showing a 13% decrease year on year with footfall in Congleton," a spokesperson said.
"We hope this raises a red flag at Cheshire East Council, who receives the business rates for Congleton, and leads to a greater focus being placed on Congleton and in particular assistance given the developers that are keen to invest in Congleton.
"It is good that we still have the 4th highest footfall after Crewe, Macclesfield and Wilmslow with 804,000 visitors and I hope that local people will continue to support their High Street."
Congleton's decline in people visiting and using our town's businesses was the second highest drop in Cheshire East.
"I also think everyone needs to go careful with statistics and would love to know how Cheshire East is capturing this data," a spokesperson continued.
"We believe it is by tracking mobile phones. When we had footfall counters in town as a part of the Big Data Small User UK Innovation project it measured actual people walking through passing the counter.
" The average over two years was around 6,500 on weekdays and higher on Saturdays.
"Last year the Town Council questioned CEC on the accuracy of its Town Centre data as we didn't recognise the picture it painted with the reality of the town.
"The 2021 report showed the average June Wednesday as having 35,000 visitors and the average dwell time as 208 minutes in the High Street.
"We are also conscious that whilst footfall is important as it gives the opportunity for a sale, greater footfall does not necessarily mean more sales.
"If some towns are near to railway stations or schools, and more people are walking through early in the morning now that society has opened up, if doesn't necessarily mean those towns are doing better."
This of course, is not the case with Congleton, with the Railway Station not really being within walking distance of our town centre. (One-and-a-half miles, 28 minute walk away).
Cheshire East Council have been contacted for comment for further clarification on the methodology.
The spokesperson finished off with an optimistic call to action.
"In Congleton we have had a number of fantastic new businesses open recently and are aware via the Congleton Information Centre that we are attracting lots of visitors from the surrounding towns who are very complimentary to Congleton," they concluded.
"We will continue to work with our businesses to keep the town centre looking good and initiatives to increase numbers into our town."
Last night on the Congleton Nub News Facebook page, ideas were floated by our readers on how to stop the decline.
One female Congletonian said "Be more like Leek and Buxton - have more individual shops instead of nail bars, hairdressers, takeaways and bars."
Another suggested "Cheap rates for pop up shops, keep units open and switch it up every so often.
"We do need entertainment options, a venue for local bands, a cinema, bowling alley, arcade for the younguns."
But a male reader suggested that the problem isn't just exclusive to our town. "A town full of takeaways isn't really much of a town, unfortunately Congleton isn't on its own with these problems," he said.
Congleton: You can read the full comment thread here.
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