Northbrook Street has confirmed its place as the heart and soul of the town, after a new survey revealed the shops are attracting three times as many people as Bartholomew Street.
A new survey revealed that the Kennet Centre is the major draw on the south side of town, and that the southern end of Bartholomew Street is one of the worst spots in town for passing trade.
Every six months, enumerators count how many people pass by at 30 different locations in town. The survey was started by town centre manager Mitch Roberts in 2002, amid concerns that pedestrianisation was driving people away. By 2003, the number of people walking around town had gone up 11%.
Outside Marks & Spencer remains the busiest spot in town, with 1,000 people an hour passing through, against just91 an hour outside Thresher in the Broadway – which polled the lowest activity.
The Kennet Centre took three places in the top ten hotspots, and the mall is around 25% busier than the whole of Bartholomew Street.
The survey also bears out recent retail activity, where cafes, bookshops and music stores have opened up in Northbrook Street, against several shop closures in Bartholomew Street.
However, now the extensive roadworks are over in Bartholomew Street, the next batch of figures are expected to provide a more accurate picture.
Top 5 trading hotspots
1. Northbrook St M&S
2. Northbrook St Boots
3. Kennet Centre Hinds
4. Northbrook St HMV
5. Northbrook St Next
Worst five for passing trade
1. Broadway Thresher
2. Cheap St RSPCA
3. Bart St Jones Robinson
4. Bart St Lighting Centre
5. Bart St Stan James
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