THE opening of Primark in Colchester has brought thousands of extra shoppers to the town centre, it is claimed.

According to CBRE Global Investors, which owns Lion Walk Shopping Centre, there has been a 30 per cent rise in average daily footfall.

It says the figure is now 30,000 a day compared to 23,000 before Primark opened on February 9 this year. Many nearby businesses say they have benefited from the increase in shoppers.

Clare King, manager of Poundland in Lion Walk, decided to employ two extra part-time staff to cope with the expected rise in customers Primark’s opening would bring to her shop.

Her gamble, based on her believing the stores have similar target markets, has not disappointed her.

Miss King said: “Because you have to pass our shop leaving and going to the store, I presumed our sales would be going up.”

Miss King said sales enjoyed a particular boost during the February half term week.

She added: “There is more of a customer flow in the area.”

Daisy Secrett, sales advisor at The Gallery at Upchurch jewellers, said: “It has definitely been busier.

“There is a bit more footfall around the area, it is a lot more buzzing.”

Miss Secrett said the store would have a clearer impact on its own sales in a few months’ time.

Zoltan Vinnai, manager of Kaspa’s dessert house nearby in High Street, said: “We see a lot of people with Primark bags and they come to us afterwards.”

A spokesman for the Entertainer toy shop in Lion Walk, said: 

"Since Primark have opened, we have seen a really positive increase in footfall within The Entertainer store. We have been super busy and noticing a lot of shoppers carrying Primark bags. "The store and staff have certainly noticed the increase in footfall and have welcomed this."

Prettygate councillor Sue Lissimore (Cons) campaigned for a Primark in the town for years.

She said: “I knew all along Primark has a big following.

“That is why I have worked so hard for the last ten years to make our other councillors aware of the importance of Primark and how much Colchester is losing by not bringing one here.

“We are now seeing what a high percentage of those people who would have gone elsewhere are coming to Colchester.

“Once those 7,000 people have been to Primark they will hopefully visit the Castle, Firstsite and the smaller independent shops and local businesses will see a knock-on effect.”

Mrs Lissimore said the council now needed to ensure those people returned to the town and the area around Primark was kept clean and enhanced by signs to the town’s other attractions.

Primark’s opening came 20 months since it revealed it would be taking over the former BHS store.

Primark had long hoped to move to Colchester but were unable to find a space big enough.

Even after taking over their new store shoppers were forced to wait that little bit longer.

The store was originally meant to open in time for Christmas, but many changes were needed in order to make the space suitable, including the removal of asbestos, and that date was pushed back to spring 2017.

Alix Mills of CBRE Global Investors added: “We are delighted to welcome more customers than ever to Lion Walk and we look forward to attracting new and exciting brands to the busiest retail parade in Colchester.”

  • A CHARITY founder says the opening of Primark in Colchester has forced his shop to close.

Stephen Hall and wife Cheryl run the Invicta Foundation which provides support to wounded soldiers and their families.

They opened a charity shop in Lion Walk in 2014.

But Mr Hall said it will close on March 18.

He said: “Over the last eight to nine months they have been building the place and banging around and it has disrupted our business.

“We cannot compete with them.

“It is a big store and if you buy a T-shirt for £2 who is going to go to a charity shop when you can buy it brand new?”

Mr Hall said he had not noticed an increase in footfall but had been told that was the case by the shopping centre management.

He said: “It is a new shop and for the first month or so it will be busy.

“After that initial opening are they still going to survive?”

The Halls set up the charity after their son, Ashley Hall, was injured by a roadside bomb while serving in Afghanistan.

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