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City's historic arcade lies vacant
It was modelled on the elegant Burlington Arcade in London and was once the showpiece of Preston city centre.
But now the historic Miller Arcade is half empty and is showing signs of deterioration.
The arcade, housed in an elegant Victorian building off Church Street, still boasts popular stores which include French Connection, Rohan, Utility, Monkhouse School Outfitters and Games Workshop as well as Cafe Manyana.
But some of the remaining traders say the arcade is now looking drab, with empty shops, smashed and boarded windows and crumbling masonry.
Joint developers Bluemantle and Kilmartin were given planning permission to refurbish the Grade II-listed facility last year and said a multi-million pound facelift was in the offiing.
But Kevin Barrett, manager at Monkhouse School Outfitters said developers had "ripped out" the first floor offices and added: "The water has got into the roof and the pigeons have got in. it's a real mess up there."
Mr Barrett, who has managed the popular store for 14 years said he has witnessed the sad demise of the arcade.
He said: "It is a real shame because it is a beautiful building. We get very little footfall now. People come to us because they know us and know where we are but there is no passing trade.
"Shoppers just don't come to this end of town any more."
He added that the arcade used to be filled with specialist and designer shops.
Natalie Willacy, from Utility card shop, said: "It just makes us feel a bit negative because we are not getting the same footfall.We are on the front but it does seem like there's no life in the arcade."
Colleague Vicky Cass-Buckley, said: "Older women said they used to sit in there and have lunch but now they don't feel safe."
Natalie added: "It would be great if they could get a coffee shop here to get people back."
One woman shopper from Broughton, who asked not to be named, said: "The last I heard, somebody was going to turn it into an eating place.
"It's sad really because it's a beautiful building."
Preston City Council town centre ward representative Coun Ron Atkins said he had been trying to find out what was happening with the arcade.
He said: "It is not just the Miller Arcade, there are empty premises throughout the town centre."
He said "This is a beautiful arcade.
"It is very sad indeed and it upsets me every time I walk through, which I do quite often because it is beautiful. It is very sad state of affairs."
The developers planned to provide 30,000 sq ft of office accommodation above the main retail area in the Victorian arcade and 20,000 sq ft of retail space in three leisure units brought back into use.
This would take the total space in the historic building up to 50,000 sq ft spread across five floors, including the basement, ground and three upper floors.
Representatives from neither Bluemantle nor Kilmartin were available to comment.
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Weather for Preston
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
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Temperature: -3 C to 3 C
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