Comments:Liverpool One retail development opens

Liverpool One? Fantastic - but could spell the death of other parts of the City Centre.
I have walked around the first phase of Liverpool One, which looks very impressive. I could see a lot of work continuing on phase two which is due to be released in September.

The only worry / concern I do have is that this development will suck all the trade away from the Lime Street / Bold Street / Renshaw Street area - leading to loads of shut up shops, dereliction and general neglect as the focus is so heavily on that area of the city centre.

Obviously this concerns me as I am based within Grand Central Hall - http://www.grandcentralhall.co.uk - which as people may have read, is the new home for small traders who were moved from the Quiggins building on School Lane / Peters Lane at the outset of the development.

It is a noticable concern amongst many of my fellow stall-holders within the building that much emphasis is upon big brand name stores - and the little shops that are local entrepreneurs and many of whom employ local people are being overshadowed and overlooked in favour of 'big business' by our very own City Council.

Surely - as well as encouraging the development of these projects, we should also encourage the independant local stores and maintain the diversity of choice that Liverpool is so famous for worldwide?

Hopefully when the Central Village project gets underway come 2010 it should balance out the Liverpool One project. Further hope is that this end of the city centre isn't a derelict wasteground at that point.

Regards Paul @ Grand Central Hall