Cold comfort for town's shoppers

Promised investment is still yet to materialise at 'freezing' Arcades

- By JONATHAN BLACKBURN

The entrance and largely deserted interior of the Port Arcades shopping centre in Ellesmere Port, which was promised 'substantial investment' by owners the Adhan Group in 2024

WORKERS are "freezing" at a neglected shopping centre that locals say is now filled with charity and vape shops.

The owners of the Port Arcades in Ellesmere Port promised multi-million pound investment in the town-centre shopping mall in 2024, but as yet, no work has been carried out.

When the ECHO visited, several units were empty, with some large vacant units visibly dilapidated. The local MP has urged the Blackburn-based Adhan Group either to deliver on the promised investment, or sell the shopping centre.

Mavis Ridge, 77, moved to Ellesmere Port in the 1970s. She told the ECHO: "I think it's a disgrace. We've lost so many shops that there's nothing to come shopping for here any more.

"Some of these buildings are ready to come down. I loved it when I moved here. It was a lovely place to shop. There were greengrocers, butchers, boutiques. It would be lovely to see it thriving again.