Liverpool’s shopping streets on a Christmas high

LIVERPOOL’S  high streets saw a huge increase in footfall in the run up to Christmas, thanks to a new lease of life from Liverpool One, figures show.

More than 7.4 million people visited the city centre in December – an increase of well over a million on the previous year, according to the Liverpool City Central Business Improvement District Company.

The figures buck the national trend, where there was an 8% decline in high street footfall during the same period.

Boxing Day in Liverpool city centre saw an annual increase of 58.7% and although New Year’s Day saw a decline of 0.2%, this was still better than the national figure, which saw a decrease of 9.7%.

Cllr Gary Millar, executive member for Enterprise and Tourism, said: “These are remarkable figures by any standard. The city is, of course, reaping the benefit of Liverpool One being recently open, but that has to be set against the current recession which has badly affected every city.

“While footfall does not automatically translate into people spending in shops and restaurants- although the retail spend in Liverpool has grown hugely in the last year – it is highly encouraging that we are attracting so many more people back into the city centre.

“It suggests that we are restoring our position as a regional shopping centre. However, we must continue in our efforts to make the city centre an attractive place to visit and consolidate these figures.”

Pedestrian numbers are monitored using cameras at Brythen Street, Church Street, Parker Street and Church Street/Whitechapel.