Town’s top of the shops (From St Helens Star)

Town’s top of the shops

5:00pm Thursday 30th August 2012 in News By Dave Humphreys

A GO-AHEAD new group is trying to stimulate Prescot’s economy...and they firmly believe the area has plenty to shout about despite failing, like St Helens, in its bid to become a Portas Town.

And with a big market and carnival planned for early next month, Prescot’s shopping zone has received more welcome news as one of its retailers ranked in the top 10 stores of a national chain.

M&Co’s Prescot store recently became one of the top retailing outlets in a nationwide franchise of more than 300 shops.

Jacky Kelly, store manager, told the Star: “We’re certainly holding our own. “It’s the quality that customers like and that’s why they keep coming back to us.”

The success of M&Co serves as another positive for Prescot, following the instant success of the new Wetherspoons’ pub on the site of the old Kwik Save store.

In July, Grant Shapps, Minister for Housing and Local Government indicated that his department had received 419 bids for the second round of Portas, and that unfortunately the Prescot application was unsuccessful.

In spite of the failed Portas bid, retailers and members of the borough council and council chamber have come together to form the Prescot Business Group, hoping to keep up the foundation work that started with the Portas bid and ensuring a brighter future for Prescot.

The group’s current projects include the upcoming producers market on Saturday in Prescot high street.

The market will feature stalls selling cupcakes, meats, fresh bread, pastries, cheeses, crafts and jewellery. Organisers are hoping for a busy Eccleston Street to make shopping a local experience once again.

Residents will also get to experience the popular Prescot carnival the following week, Sunday, September 9.

The carnival, which was rescheduled due to weather in July, offers a range of fun and exciting activities suitable for all ages.

A fun fair, bouncy castle, face painting and craft stalls are all on offer along with lots of live entertainment and refreshments available throughout the day.

The carnival starts at 11am with a 4pm finish on Browns Field, Wood Lane, Prescot.