MORE town centre traders have announced they are leaving the town due to low profits.

There are dozens of empty outlets on Market Street, Pall Mall and Chapel Street, and even some shops on multi-million pound development Market Walk are struggling.

Steve Arstall of Jacksons Shoe Repairs, Market Place has put his business up for sale after 17 years.

He said: "Profits have slumped and people have stopped coming to Chorley. The town's dead."

Klick Photopoint on Chapel Street will close on October 19 after five years, also due to low trade.

Liz Wilding, manager of Supasnaps on Market Place, said: "Rents are becoming unaffordable, and costs to upkeep buildings are sky high. Repairing our gutters will cost £4,500."

Even the new Market Walk has its share of problems. Strand card shop closed after just over a year, and Aleef Newsagents is struggling.

Aleef manager Mohammed Musa said: "Rates and rents are becoming too high. It's not looking good for us."

Market Walk manager Pat Duckett said Market Walk rents were "within the expected range" and added: "The development has brought new emphasis on Chorley. People who went out of town for certain facilities can now find them here."

A Chorley commercial development spokesman said: "Traders should hang in there until the economy improves.

"After a redevelopment there's a readjustment period when shopping patterns take time to resettle.

"As for business rates, these are set by central government - the council is merely the collector."

Jose Hampson of Chorley's Chamber of Trade commented: "We have many family businesses retaining Chorley's character but there is too much of the same. We need a big department store and more variety."

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