Call for CWAC to help save Northwich (From Northwich Guardian)

Call for CWAC to help save Northwich

3:00pm Thursday 6th September 2012 in News By Gina Bebbington

NORTHWICH councillors are appealing to a higher authority to help save the town centre.

The plight of Weaver Square Shopping Centre came under the spotlight at Northwich Town Council’s latest meeting.

Members hope Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) can take the lead in changing the centre’s fortunes after it went into receivership in August.

Clr Paul Dolan, a Northwich town and CWAC councillor, said: “At the end of the day if we lose this it will be an awful blow to the town but there are also some opportunities.

“If CWAC can take the lead in trying to find the opportunity to resolve issues – issues like neglect and rental costs – there’s an opportunity to move on but it needs leadership, discussion and dialogue with the receivers and this needs to be given an urgency.

“Unfortunately it happened in the summer months and now we need to quickly grasp the situation.

“If there’s to be confidence in Northwich for the future there needs to be confidence now.”

Town mayor Clr George Mainwaring said he had asked for the issue to be included on the town council’s agenda.

“Clr Dolan’s statement is most important,” he said.

“As the town council we should support our CWAC councillors to do their best for us at Chester.”

The precinct was owned by Weaver Square Investments Ltd but Nationwide Building Society called in receivers Colliers International to take over its managment.

CWAC owns the land that the centre is built on.

Shops and businesses in Weaver Square Shopping Centre are still operating as usual.