Unfortunately we have several empty shops along Market Street, like the old Barrie & Co menswear store (sale details at Clive Watkin). Thresher Wine is about to close, if it hasn’t already.
There has been some discussion over recent months about making use of the shops for non-profit concerns or even just to make use of the shop fronts. Towns and villages up and down the country make use of empty shop fronts by displaying art produced by local schools and colleges in an attempt to reduce the visual impact of forlorn looking empty shops. I’ve spotted that a couple of Hoylake businesses have now got advertising posters up in some empty shop windows.
Last week I read an article that might be of interest to our local community groups relating to short term leases. There are free, short term lease agreements called Meanwhile Leases and the official website has much more information about what’s involved and what you need to consider. It seems you have to pay a peppercorn rent and cover utility bills – but Government funding has been made available to over 100 local authorities and Wirral may be included? Update: Wirral has been allocated some funds – see this page.
If you’re making plans for a non-profit concern within an empty Hoylake shop – please leave a comment or get in touch and tell me about your plans and I’ll give you a mention here on HoylakeJunction.com
Mark Howard says