THE management of a town shopping centre maintain it has a bright future despite a big rise in the number of vacant units.

Plans are in place, and talks are being held to fill the empty units in Eagles Meadow according to the centre manager Kevin Critchley.

This follows the announcement that Trespass, the outdoor clothing specialist, is the latest in a string of outlets to close their store in Wrexham’s shopping centre.

Eagles Meadow opened in 2008 and in recent months it has seen a number of shops refuse to renew their lease, including Greggs, Starbucks and Arcadia outlets including Topshop, Burton and Dorothy Perkins.

However Mr Critchley has insisted that there are plans in place to fill the increasing number of vacant units.

“Of course we are aware of the losses in recent months, the loss of Arcadia last year was a major shock to us, but of course we are looking to the future, we have plans, and we are talking to not just retail outlets but clothing and leisure as well.

“There is a big, strong team in the background that you do not see, who are working together to let the units we have free, and we are very positive and hopeful that we will bring in more trade in the future.”

Trespass is set to close on February, 20, and means that there are now 14 units to let in Eagles Meadow.

Despite this, Mr Critchley says that certain areas of Eagles Meadow are performing very well, but admits it’s hard to predict what will happen in the future.

“Our cinema is trading very well, it had a quieter Christmas but has picked up since the start of the New Year and is looking forward to a very good February with lots of great new films coming to its screens.

“Our M&S does very well, certainly better than other M&S stores across the country, a lot of our restaurants are bringing in a lot of business too.

“The leisure sector is particularly exceeding.

“Some of our stores are doing better than many of its own stores across other parts of the country, which in my opinion is a pat on the back for Wrexham and for Eagles Meadow.

“Of course, there’s always a risk that other stores will close but that is something that we just cannot predict. I don’t think anybody would have predicted that Toys R Us was going to close two months before it did.

“We are hopeful that we can bring in new trade though, and yes, we do have plans in place and we’re positive about the future.”

Mr. Critchley did go on to highlight that the issues Eagles Meadow are having are not just unique to Wrexham, but an problem that towns across the UK are having.

He said, “Wrexham is not an island, the whole situation across the UK is bad right now. The retail sector is under a lot of pressure right now and no shopping centre is immune.

“If your idea of a town centre is charity shops, cafe’s and one local supermarket then yes, your town is probably booming, but there’s so much more to it than that in Wrexham.

“Everywhere is suffering by the increase in online shopping and has been for years. This isn’t a consumer demand issue, the demand is still there, but the way that people consume has significantly changed.

“However, we are confident that we will bring in new trade, we’re looking ahead and we’re hopeful.”