COLCHESTER must seize the opportunity to use the vacant Debenhams store to drive footfall into the town centre, Colchester Council’s leader says.

The former shop in Culver Square Shopping Centre boasts three-storeys of space and Paul Dundas argues it could be key in driving people into the town “if used effectively”.

The council leader explained he believes the future of Colchester’s town centre lies with more “leisure-orientated” ideas and says residents can expect to see this over the coming years.

He added: “Leisure seems to have a great pull rather than retail, which still has its place and will stay, but I don’t think you’ll see as many big new retailers arrive, such are the times with online shopping.”

Debenhams closed in Colchester in May last year after first opening in 1987 as the flagship retailers for the shopping centre.

Read more: WATCH: Colchester Debenhams staff say goodbye to store in emotional video

However, following slumping sales in recent years, the enforced closure of sites during the pandemic was the final nail in the coffin, resulting in the company falling into administration within weeks of Covid-19 fully taking effect in the UK.

Mr Dundas said: “I believe the unused Debenhams could be a great driver in bringing people into the town. It’s a huge building and, if used effectively, could present a fantastic opportunity.

“More broadly, the feedback we have received is the High Street is doing quite well post-Covid.

Read more: CONFIRMED: This is when Debenhams in Colchester will close for final time

“The run-up to Christmas was all positive and it is always a challenging time after the festive period but we will see what happens.

“There is a relatively low amount of vacancies in terms of shops so I think it has probably recovered better than expected.”

Mr Dundas also stated the effectiveness of partial pedestrianisation in High Street is always under review, but there are no plans to scrap it.

“The challenge is bringing in a scheme which brings extra footfall without causing traffic chaos,” he said.

“I wouldn’t support scrapping the partial pedestrianisation unless I saw a development plan which I was confident would work and so far I haven’t.”