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Empty shops are getting an artistic makeover
Mannequins, picture frames, summer clothes – Preston's high street is to become a blank canvas for creative minds.
Empty shops blighting the city centre are to get a colourful lick of imagination.
In a bid to hide the ugly gaps left by shops that have bitten the dust, empty shop fronts are to be transformed into art galleries and adverts for local charities.
Talks are ongoing between business bosses and landlords of some of the city's blighted buildings in a bid to get charities from the Preston Community Arts Project (Prescap) putting them to good use.
Ken Williams, chairman of the city's new Business Improvement District (BID) steering group, said it was already talking to the owners of the former Woolworths store on Fishergate about using it for the new project, called Pick 'n' Mix.
The manager of The Mall St George's shopping centre has already pinpointed three empty shops in his centre which he is donating to the project in a bid to kick-start interest.
Mr Williams said: "We are very conscious of the fact that empty shops do nothing to improve the look of the high street.
"The problem we face is that different shops have different landlords and agents, so there is going to be a lot of different people we have to convince. It is a real challenge but a worthwhile one.
"The first target is Woolworths and I know that Prescap is very interested in that because of how it dominates the high street."
He added the former Carphone Warehouse shop on Lune Street could become the first venue for the scheme with the ex-Thomson Travel branch and the former Going Places shop on Friargate, had already been targeted within his centre.
Prescap chief executive Ben Hunt said it wanted to use the project to "bring art to the people".
He said: "What can be viewed by many as a negative, the empty shops on our high street, will now be turned into something very positive thanks to the talents of local people and professional artists alike."
It is hoped landlords will be convinced to hand their empty properties by a 'loophole' on property rates for shops which are vacant for three months.
Chris Scott, a member of the BID group and a commercial property lawyer at DWF Solicitors in Preston, said that if a property is occupied for six weeks paying full rates, the owner can then claim a further three months rate-free.
He said: "In theory this cycle of short-term occupation for a minimum of six weeks triggering a period of rates relief could be continued indefinitely.
"There are expressions of interest, so we are doing a couple of mock-up shops to try and spark some interest."
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Weather for Preston
Wednesday 22 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 11 C to 12 C
Wind Speed: 40 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: South west
