Figures released by Caerphilly county borough council show that shoppers continued to support their local town centres in the run up to Christmas.
Footfall data for the three principle towns in the area – Bargoed, Blackwood and Caerphilly – reveal that the number of shoppers matched figures for the same period last year.
It was feared that the ongoing economic downturn would have had a negative impact on shopper numbers during this critical period for retailers, but the footfall data actually shows a slight increase in numbers.
Cllr Ron Davies, CCBC cabinet member for regeneration said, “These figures are encouraging and show that local people are still doing their bit to support the local economy. It is important that this continues, especially in the current economic climate.”
“For retailers, their expectations entering the Christmas trading period were quite low, but it’s encouraging to see that local people have rallied and the trading period was not as bad as was first feared,” he added.
A number of popular festive markets and events organised by the council also helped to attract more people to the area during the pre-Christmas period.
Caerphilly County Borough Council offers excellent retail opportunities for business, with the local authority recognising the importance of the retail sector to the wider regional economy. The main town centres of Bargoed, Blackwood, Caerphilly and Risca benefit from a dedicated Town Centre Development Manager who co-ordinates the strategic and operational needs of these regional centres.
For more information contact Andrew Highway on 01443 866213 or visit their shopping web pages
