Trade chiefs fear that the growing number of empty shops on Fishergate is the start of a 'shrinking' of the city centre and have called for traders and council bosses to unite to stop the rot.

It comes after one of the city's biggest banks, HSBC, closed its Fishergate branch to move further along the high street, leaving yet another empty space.

Ken Williams, general manager of The Mall St George's, said the city cannot afford to idly await Tithebarn.

He said: "If we keep looking forward to Tithebarn then we will miss the opportunity to develop the city centre today.

"We will not have got in good enough shape to be prepared for the modern facility that will be Tithebarn, and my concern is about where we are today, not something happening in 2013.

"I'm tired of people pointing to Tithebarn as the solution, when there is a problem in the city centre today."

Preston Council regeneration cabinet member Anthony Gornall admitted its planning officers would have to be careful not to "cut the city centre in half" with Tithebarn, which will entail redevelopment of a 1.6m sq ft site near the bus station.

Coun Gornall said: "Tithebarn will not come on stream until 2013, and there is a long time between now and then. We have got to work to ensure the rest of the city is somewhere which compliments Tithebarn."

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