A NEGLECTED shopping centre is bringing Northwich into disrepute and threatening its regeneration, according to concerned councillors.

Northwich Town Council said something urgently needs to be done with the troubled Weaver Square Shopping Centre, which was taken over by Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) in October last year.

Cllr Derek Bowden said: "Every day it's doing more damage to the potential development of Barons Quay.

"It's imperative that positive action is taken on developing that area as quickly as possible."

Weaver Square Shopping Centre went into receivership in August 2012 when Nationwide Building Society called in receiver Colliers International to take over the management of the centre from owners, Weaver Square Investments Ltd.

CWAC already owned the land that the centre is on and acquired the lease from the building society last year.

Chris Shaw, town council clerk, reported that he had attended a meeting with CWAC's property services department to discuss proposals for the centre.

"Property services confirmed there are no proposals for either Weaver Square or Northwich Market at this present time," he said.

Cllr Brian Jamieson said: "I can't imagine someone's going to buy a shopping centre and not have any idea what they're going to do with it but that seems to be what's happened.

"We need to have a further meeting with CWAC.

"It's desperate, more and more shops are closing and it's almost vacant now.

"We need to progress this somehow, it's falling down around our ears."

The council discussed CWAC's local plan, which members said is against development that may threaten the Barons Quay scheme.

Cllr Andrew Cooper said: "With the state Weaver Square is in it's bringing the town centre into disrepute.

"Left as it is it's more of a threat to Barons Quay.

"A potential retail business for Barons Quay would take one look at Weaver Square and think differently about it."

Cllr Sam Naylor, a town council and CWAC councillor for Winnington and Castle, said: "It's frustrating but we have a new administration at CWAC and we have invited the new leader to come to Northwich and take on board all the issues we have discussed tonight.

"She's keen to do that."

He added: "We will take every opportunity to raise the issues we've raised tonight."