Ice rink coming to town

AN OUTDOOR ice rink and festive market will open under £70,000 plans to attract Christmas shoppers to a town centre.

Thousands of pounds are being invested in Crewe to bring in more visitors during the winter months.

Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council fears the town centre has suffered a loss in vibrancy and vitality following the closure of a number of shops.

Board members have approved plans to spend £70,000 from a Local Authority Business Development Grant on new ventures aimed at bringing the town to life this Christmas.

Proposals include an ice skating rink in Market Square, a Continental Christmas market, and up to £15,000 of improvements and replacement plants on the B&Q roundabout in Weston Road.

Denise Clifton, aged 52, who lives in Hungerford Road, Crewe, said: "I think an ice rink would be extremely popular with the kids. Crewe definitely needs this type of on-street entertainment."

Ronnie Roberts, aged 63, from Alton Street, Crewe, said: "An ice rink at Christmas will certainly attract people into the town, especially if it's free. If there is entertainment in the town, then people are more likely to visit and do their shopping here."

Paul Burns, the council's business manager, said: "The ice rink and Continental market are very much designed to give people a better impression of Crewe and encourage to come into the town and spend money.

"The ice rink will be free to use and we hope this will attract both youngsters and adults into the town centre.

"The Continental market will feature local traders as well as those further afield. It will bring a bit of variety and interest into the town for Christmas."

Improvements to the B&Q roundabout have also been welcomed and other plans, including a shoppers' creche and themed events, are also being considered with potential partners such as developer Modus.

Councillor David Brickhill, portfolio holder for economic development, said: "This roundabout is the entrance to Nantwich Road, one of Crewe's biggest shopping streets, so anything that can make it more welcoming and attractive can only be a good thing."

The Sentinel has reported how Modus, which is behind a proposed £240 million revamp of the town centre, has started letting out business premises previously earmarked for demolition to ensure Crewe does not turn into a ghost town as the redevelopment plans are progressing more slowly than anticipated because of the economic climate.