THE owner of pop up craft shop hopes there will still be room for independent traders on Bolton’s high street following plans to demolish Crompton Place shopping centre.

Michelle Oxford, 42, opened Belle’s Pop Up Shop in April 2019 and enjoyed great success before the coronavirus pandemic forced her to close for three months.

Now, after reopening on July 1, she is welcoming back her regulars but fears that smaller businesses like herself will get squeezed out when the town centre is rebuilt.

“Since opening last April we have had such a wonderful response,” said Michelle. “We have built up regulars and a real community of customers.

“Thankfully a lot of the regulars I had built up before Covid-19 have returned and it was lovely to hear that many of them had been waiting for us to reopen.

“Obviously I’d like it to get busier but I’ve been pleasantly surprised as I did think it was going to be an absolute disaster.”

The demolition of Crompton Place shopping centre is set to start in just six months after a £250m redevelopment of Bolton town centre was approved leaving Michelle facing an uncertain future.

“With the impending closure of the centre, I sincerely hope that our local council sees the importance of keeping small independent businesses on the high street,” she added. “I hope that Belle’s can be part of the regeneration and be a part of Bolton’s new town centre.

“I am very concerned as I have been invited to a few of the council meetings and they talk about rehousing Boots and Primark which is valid but they don’t talk about the smaller businesses and whether we will have a presence.

“All my customers say ‘this is what we need in Bolton’ and we need something that is a little bit different and can offer customer service and different products. Otherwise every town looks the same because we’re what gives them that individual charm.”