WITNEY’S newest shopping centre has seen huge sales in its first week of trading.

And other parts of the town centre have received a boost with the news that Cargo will re-open in an empty shop, along with another fashion retailer.

Since Marriotts Walk, in Welch Way, opened almost two weeks ago, business has been booming for retailers within the shopping centre, including claims of three times the expected sales at Marks & Spencer.

There are no official figures for footfall in the £50m development, but shopping centre manager, Lynne Shawyer, said: “Since the opening, shops have been trading well.

“Several store managers have reported that sales were exceptional on the opening day and first weekend.

“For example, on the first day, M&S reached its target by 2pm, and by the end of the day it had tripled.

“Cineworld has been very busy, the most popular film was UP 3D, which sold out six times over the first three days.”

Marks & Spencer refused to reveal how much it had made, but store manager, Chris Taylor, said: “We've had a fantastic first week of trading in Witney, and the customer feedback has been great — some customers have even told us that they’ve been waiting 25 years for an M&S in Witney.”

It is expected that even more people will flock to the store on Friday, when the store will hold a penny bazaar to celebrate its 125th birthday.

Sandra Coulthard is store manager for Debenhams, which also would not reveal its sales figures.

But she said: “The store has been performing outstandingly in its first week, both from a customer and sales perspective.

“It’s safe to say that as a store, we have exceeded our targets in all areas, and have been delivering amazing results.

“I couldn’t be more pleased with the first week, and am looking forward to a busy year ahead.”

Alex Blakelock, spokesman for developers Simons Group, said: “We’re delighted that people are enjoying the centre and making the most of the new shops.

“There was such a great atmosphere and feeling of support when the centre opened, and it’s very rewarding to see that this is still the case.”

This week, Cargo, which shut in September to make way for the Woolgate Shopping Centre expansion, announced that it would temporarily re-open on Thursday in the old New Look shop, in Market Square.

The furniture and homewares retailer plans to open again in a larger store in the Woolgate Centre in mid-2010.

Cargo managing director, Clive Gilbert, said: “I am absolutely delighted that we have been able to find a way to still serve our loyal Cargo customers in Witney over the festive season.

“Cargo has always been a popular destination in the town, and we were very keen to find a way to keep serving the community.”

In March, Lakeland will permanently replace the former New Look shop, and another fashion retailer from the Arcadia group — which includes Topshop, Wallis, Burton, and Evans — will take up in the vacant Dorothy Perkins store, which also moved to Marriotts Walk.

Last month, it was announced that Next would occupy the majority of the Woolgate extension, due to be completed next autumn.

Rodney Hartnell, Woolgate Centre manager, said, “We are delighted that Marriotts Walk has opened, and that the town is now firing on all cylinders.”

Warwick Robinson, West Oxfordshire district councillor, has been involved in the project for the past eight years. He said that the Woolgate Centre saw a 15 per cent increase in the number of shoppers since Marriotts Walk opened.

He said: “Certainly, the town looks busier than it has looked for a long time.

“Yesterday, I went to the cinema, and it was packed. It’s a whole new offering to the people of Witney and surrounding areas — a cinema, major national companies, that have not been able to come before because the stores were not big enough.

“Marks & Spencer has had massive success, and of course the development has already created more than 300 jobs — I think all of these things are very positive.”

Source: Witney Gazette