The leader of Barnsley Council has said a decision to buy the Alhambra Shopping Centre is a major step in ensuring a vibrant future for the town centre, and eliminating the fear of job losses should the current owners have decided to close the centre.
“What we know from the Alhambra and from some of the more traditional shopping centres which are struggling around the country is that when they've tried to just maintain their original purpose , in some cases it’s just brought them to an end. We don't want that in Barnsley.
“So our aim with the Alhambra is to do exactly what we've done at the Glass Works which is to diversify it, to bring other types of businesses in there - to still have retail and to still the support the businesses we've got if they want to stay there, but to diversify it and get into other activities which can continue to increase footfall in the town centre.”
After the success of the town-centre NHS Community Diagnostic Centre - which has been cited as a reason for breast cancer diagnoses increasing by 22 per cent, as well as significant reductions in waiting times - council bosses are keen to explore whether other NHS services could be operated from the Alhambra.
Coun Houghton continued: “One of the things we're thinking about - because there are some huge health challenges in the borough - is can we build on the success of the diagnostic centre and have other public health services based in the Alhambra centre which would improve access for people and also put health firmly on people's mindset and lead to improvements in the health of the population.
“If we can do that, the combination of a successful Alhambra and Glass Works, will keep the town centre thriving for years and years to come.”
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