By HELEN COMPSON

Published at 09:47, Friday, 21 May 2010

A BOLD new vision is needed to put Hexham back on the map as a destination shopping town, said leading figures this week.

Bold move: In the event of Robb's closing the building's owners, the Buccleuch Group, are being urged to resurrect ambitious redevelopment plans for the site.

If the 192-year-old Robb’s store does close, planners must seize the opportunity to create a retail centre fit for the 21st century.

Chairman of Hexham Business Forum Sandy Rutherford said: “If no buyer is found to take over the running of the Robb’s store, we hope the landlords and planners seize the opportunity for a major rethink of that part of the town.

“What is required is a bold vision in keeping with the town’s cultural heritage for what is a prime retail space.”

Hexham had been known for generations for its strong retail offering, set in a wonderful rural environment.

But it needed to up its game to meet the demands of shoppers today.

However, he also warned of the dangers of allowing the services provided by the post office and the Robb’s food hall to be lost to the town centre.

The lack of choice and the transfer of yet more services out of town would have the greatest impact on the most vulnerable groups in the community, whether due to age, disability or economic hardship.

Chairman of Hexham Civic Society Tim Tatman, said if the Robb’s business managed to survive, the building would have to be given a major overhaul.

“Robb’s is almost necessary to the viability of the town centre; it is one of the main draws for shoppers,” he said.

“But the building is awful – it is gloomy and unventilated and there are staircases everywhere.”

In the event of the Robb’s business folding, though, he hoped the building’s owners, Buccleuch Group, would resurrect the £40million redevelopment plans it announced 18 months ago.

Before the chill economic winds froze that plan in its tracks, Hexham was given a brief glimpse of the elegant new-build complete with courtyard and polished retail units proposed.

Mr Tatman said: “If a new retail operator wasn’t found and the building became a boarded up, vacant premises, then I would hope Buccleuch Group would bring forward its redevelopment plans.

“It could create a very pleasant environment, but the work would have to be done quickly, because existing customers will soon develop other shopping habits.”

One fact Mr Rutherford and Mr Tatman agreed on was that Hexham was not dead on its feet, as claimed by a town councillor last week.

Far from the “moribund” centre offering nothing but charity shops and hot food takeaways described by Coun. Andy Travis, it was, in fact, thriving, thanks to the attractiveness of the location to retailers.

Both pointed to the low level of empty retail units across the town as a whole and the speed at which they were re-let when one did become vacant.

Newcastle-based retail analyst Graham Soult echoed their thoughts.

“There aren’t very many empty units in Hexham and it’s important to flag that up – the town centre is pretty healthy compared to lots of other towns of the same size,” he said.

“It hasn’t suffered in quite the same way following the administration of Woolworth’s, for example. The Hexham store was sold off very quickly.”

He agreed with Mr Tatman that if saved, Robb’s could yet be turned into a vibrant store worthy of its prime location.

Robb’s had struggled since Merchant Retail sold it. There had been little or no investment and as a result, the building looked very down-at-heel.

Mr Soult said: “That has been no fault of the brilliant, dedicated staff who have worked hard to bring it back from being the shell that it was three years ago, the last time the administrators were called in.

“Ultimately, it comes down to the management on high – if they haven’t got the skills or resources to turn the store round then it needs someone else who has.

“Robb’s could be a really successful business, because it’s in the heart of Hexham and has a very loyal trade – even more so following the demise of Woolworth’s.”

Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk