COUNCILLORS responsible for the regeneration of Northwich say they are cautiously optimistic for the future of Barons Quay.

In an interview with the Guardian, Cllr Richard Beacham, CWAC cabinet member for housing, regeneration and growth, and Witton councillor Sam Naylor, who also sits on the Mid Cheshire Development Board, said the precinct looks to be ‘weathering the coronavirus storm’.

They also confirmed that negotiations are ongoing, albeit in the early stages, with two potential new tenants which would bring something ‘exciting and different’.

Retail units which were open prior to lockdown have now reopened, hospitality businesses are slowly reopening in some form and the Odeon cinema is planning to reopen within weeks.

And businesses which were in the process of fitting out units in preparation for opening have started work once more.

“It would be stupid of me to say there isn’t going to be an impact from Covid-19 and I do worry about high streets and town centres across the borough,” Cllr Beacham said.

“However, businesses that were open before have reopened and those planning to take on a unit and were fitting them out have carried on the work.

“The cinema will soon be reopening in a safe way, which will be a good thing to get people coming back into the town, particularly in the evening, which will also help to support hospitality businesses.

“We’re cautiously optimistic that we’re weathering the storm at the moment. Obviously the announcement by H&M of store closures is worrying and it would be a blow, but they have reopened, which is a good sign.”

Cllr Naylor added: “There will be casualties in every high street because of Covid-19.

“We’re hoping that we can escape it, but we don’t know what is going to happen.

“The officer responsible for Barons Quay is still really optimistic and is getting enquiries from businesses that want to move into Barons Quay.

“These are really exciting ideas which are totally different than what we first conceived when Barons Quay was built.

“We are getting more and more enquiries from organisations who want to put on entertainment or attractions instead of your traditional retail set-up.

“We don’t know what is going to happen, but we remain optimistic that we can make something positive in the town.”