Today, I spent some time walking Market Place, High Street, and Parsons Street in Banbury. I was pleased to be able to have honest conversations with shopkeepers, business owners, and staff about how trade has been recently.
The New Year can be a challenging time for many businesses as sales slow after the Christmas period. It is clear that footfall remains low in a number of areas. There have been significant changes in how we use our high streets in recent years, with the pandemic only accelerating this.
It is encouraging to see that, despite the current challenges, a number of new shops have opened up in Banbury and are finding success. The development of Castle Quay Waterfront is also particularly exciting. This should greatly improve our leisure offering in the heart of Banbury and encourage more people to head into the town centre.
The government is committed to supporting our town centres as we move to a new phase of living with Covid. I want to work with local business owners, Cherwell District Council and the government to ensure that our high streets can thrive. We all have a role to play in their regeneration.
