Call for action over city street

The city council says the area will soon improve

Traders and shoppers have said more needs to be done to boost business on a Leicester street.

Several stores have relocated from Gallowtree Gate to other parts of the city, including the new Highcross shopping centre which opened in 2008.

Shopkeepers and people who use the street have said more should be done to attract new businesses to the area.

The city council has said there are a number of temporary stores coming to the street for Christmas time.

'Good news'

Derring Copeland, who works at a bookshop on Gallowtree Gate, said: "It looks really disgusting to be honest.

"I'm surprised people come to this end of town to shop because it does look dirty and horrible.

"[The city council] should be getting the shops filled up with different stores because the buildings are just wasted, there are quite big places to be used, and it is going downhill rapidly."

City centre manager Sarah Harrison said: "The shops are owned by private landlords, so it's not like it's owned by the council and we have complete control over it.

"There is quite good news coming because we were working on an empty shop initiative, which at least would tidy up the shop fronts in the short term.

"We've only got two shop fronts we can use because the rest are either under offer in solicitors hands or temporary lets for Christmas, so that area will be changing."