Maidenhead sees 10 per cent rise in Christmas shoppers

Christmas footfall in Maidenhead was up more than 10 per cent on the previous year.

More than six million shoppers visited the High Street in 2013, which was 1.8 per cent more than in 2012.

November and December were particularly strong months, attracting 979,486 people to the High Street, 10.6 per cent more than in the same period in 2012.

Steph James, Maidenhead town manager, said: "This shows that people are feeling more confidence in the town.

“It’s nice to see that all the hard work is starting to be recognised."

Maidenhead was recently named as having the country’s seventh healthiest economy, in the UK Vitality Index compiled by commercial property consultants Lambert Smith Hampton.

Steph pointed to investment in the town, including the £100m Chapel Arches transformation and Crossrail upgrade, as boosting interest.

She said: "For businesses, this is the perfect location, and the investment is painting a strong picture for Maidenhead’s future."

The Royal Borough's head of planning, Simon Hurrell, said the council is receiving increasing numbers of enquiries about investing in the town.