Construction of shopping precinct at Rushden is well under way

Construction of a new shopping precinct in High Street South, Rushden, is now well under way, as can be seen from the photograph (below right).

The row of cottages	The new Precint shops

Before work could start, empty cottages (above left) which had been boarded up had to be pulled down. The cottages and land were bought in October 1964, by the London based Bedford (Ford End) Property Co. Ltd.

Result

Last June the company was awaiting the result of a second revised planning application to the County Planning Authority for consideration by the Government as the area is off the main trunk road.

This second lot of plans was for eight shops around a central precinct, extending back to a depth of three shops.

New shopping precinct a white elephant?

Shops

There are eight shops on the site and as yet only three of them have attracted traders. And all three are in a position to withdraw if they have second thoughts about the suitability of the shops situation.

The three businesses interested are a decorators, greengrocers and restaurant. The shops should be completed by the end of July and so it would appear that three interested businesses at this late stage is an unsatisfactory number.

The main agent for the shops is the Bedford firm, R. W. Stonebanks and Co. and their main sub-agent in Rushden is Amos Horsburgh and Co.

Unfinished

A spokesman for Horsburgh’s said local traders seem to think the site is too far off the High Street.

He added: “What we have got to do is attract outsiders to the shops.” He thought the present apprehension could be caused because the shops are not very presentable in their unfinished state and that when they are nearer completion traders may be more inclined to take them.

Mr. B. Thomas, president of the Rushden and Higham Ferrers Chamber of Trade, thought the site was definitely too far off the High Street.

He said: “The church almost certainly acts as a barrier and people coming into the town from the Bedford area get off the bus at the Lightstrung and go straight up Church Street to the High Street.”

Welcome

He did say that he would, of course, welcome more trade to the town as it would make Rushden a better shopping centre.

The “Echo” feels it would be a pity if the precinct became a “white elephant.” We have always supported further shopping amenities and feel it would be good for the town if the shopping area was not concentrated on the High Street.

Further shopping development is taking place in the town and more is proposed.

At the bottom of St. Mary’s Avenue three shops are being built and these should be completed by the end of next month. Two of these shops have traders interested in taking over the premises.

The proposed development is at the railway end of the High Street. It is planned to build a pedestrian shopping precinct here.