INVESTIGATIONS are going to be carried out to see why some empty shop premises in Wellington have remained vacant for a long period of time.

The newly formed Wellington Town Centre Working Group met recently and members agreed that the ratio between empty shops and premises in use was felt to be pretty healthy in comparison to other towns of similar sizes.

But a report which went before Wellington Town Council said: “A certain number of empty shops would always be necessary to enable a healthy turnover.

“There was also a distinction to be drawn between empty shop premises and the large banks that had been built for an era that had now passed.

“There were a number of shops that had been empty for some time and it might be helpful to find out if there was any reason for this.”

Group members said that Wellington was continuing to grow in population and it was suggested that residents on the new developments be surveyed in a bid to promote the facilities available on their doorstep.

Group chairman Cllr Ben Shepherd said the main aims of the town centre initiative would be to investigate vacant properties, support retailers and improve local amenities.

“The council is very limited in what it can actually do but it’s hoped it can make environmental improvements to the town centre to make it a target destination,” he said.

“It has been suggested that this overall aim would be helped by successfully introducing small improvements and building on them.”

Cllr Shepherd told the town council that Wellington could be visited in the future by a Government Minister responsible for High Streets.

The Mayor, Cllr Gary James, said: “This working group is a great initiative for the town.”

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