WINSFORD’S ailing shopping centre has received a boost, after a major high street retailer decided to remain in town.

The Dorothy Perkins and Burtons shop in the Winsford Cross Shopping Centre – due to shut its doors following a closing down sale – will now stay open.

Store manager, Tania Southern, said: “We’ve no idea what’s prompted it. We found out two weeks ago.

“Seven people have kept their jobs. We’re all very happy about it here.”

Town major of Winsford, clr Gina Lewis added: “It is good to hear that Dorothy Perkins is to remain open. We have lost too many retailers recently as a result of the financial situation.

“We all appreciate how difficult it to meet the costs of rents and rates and make enough to be viable. It is a great credit to Dorothy Perkins that they have decided to stay with us.”

Though it’s welcome news for Winsford, nearly a third (28 per cent) of all the units in The Cross Shopping Centre remains empty.

24 of the 85 units are vacant – a problem exasperated by a roof collapse at the mall in 2013.

Precinct owners, MAR Properties, have repeatedly delayed unveiling plans of a new-look shopping centre.

Dene Ward town councillor, Mike Kennedy, said locals were fed up waiting for development.

“Winsford is on the up with employment. There is still work to be done, but things are certainly going in the right direction.

“What we need to see now is for MAR to sell the shopping centre and another group to move in to the area and re-develop. “There is certainly going to be growth in the town with new housing. We need the infrastructure to go with it.”