Halesowen shoppers are delivering a huge boost to Dudley borough, with research from the High Streets Task Force revealing the market town had the greatest footfall recovery rate of all UK shopping destinations.

Dudley Council is supporting traders across the borough with several measures in place to protect jobs and boost recovery in the borough. This includes offering free pitches for market traders, free parking season tickets for traders and business rates relief.

The entire West Midlands region has seen the highest footfall recovery in the country, recording 52 per cent of the previous year’s footfall. An impressive figure in comparison to Greater London, which records only 31 per cent, the lowest footfall recovery rate in the country.

Halesowen is also recorded as having the closest level of footfall rates to the previous year’s performance, during the week of 15 to 21 June when essential retailers were given the green light to reopen as lockdown eased.

The local authority works closely with Halesowen BID and The Cornbow shopping centre, of which many stores continued to trade as essential frontline services during lockdown.

The Cornbow is approved by Public Health Dudley for the safety measures it has put in place, carefully designed to keep shoppers and employees safer during the pandemic.

Councillor Ian Kettle, cabinet member for regeneration and enterprise, said:

"It’s fantastic to see people supporting our town centres at this very challenging time and I’m delighted that Halesowen has had such a strong footfall during the crisis.

"The Cornbow Shopping Centre has put in fantastic safety measures and many of its stores have continued to offer essential goods to people who live and work in the town, boosting the recovery rate of Halesowen as a whole.

"Dudley Council is urging everyone to shop and eat locally to help support our borough’s recovery and I would remind people there is still time to take advantage of the government’s ‘eat out to help out scheme’."

Adrian Oliver, director of Tansor REC, which owns The Cornbow, said:

"The footfall success is testament to the support of Halesowen’s loyal shoppers and the dedication of the centre’s management and frontline teams.

"It’s a testing time for businesses, but The Cornbow, and the loyalty of its shoppers, has continued to shine through, strengthening, and adding to, our healthy line-up of retailers. Thank you, Halesowen."

To view more information on how the government is supporting recovery of the economy visit https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus/business-support

Details of the ‘eat out to help out scheme’ including participating restaurants are at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/get-a-discount-with-the-eat-out-to-help-out-scheme