Councillors told Stirling’s retail ‘heyday’ is over as new plans could boost footfall

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Stirling’s retail ‘heyday’ is over - never to return - councillors have been told.But Stirling Council officers say they still feel positive the city centre has a vibrant future, albeit in different ways.The authority’s senior economic developer manager Stuart Oliver addressed its finance committee on Thursday, outlining a new long-term strategy to help support the growth and development of Stirling city centre.However, he said: “We are very keen to protect our retailers and retail in the city centre - but we also fully understand that retail has changed and won’t ever change back.“That’s just a fact - and there is no point in us trying to focus our energy solely on that.“In our strategic objectives now it’s about focusing on people wanting to come into the city centre, even if they don’t particularly need to, with public realm, new offerings, new attractions, new leisure services and improving connectivity.“Foremost in our minds is how the city centre remains vibrant and attractive - but understanding that, in terms of the heyday of it being filled with retail only, that’s something that’s gone.Click here for more news and sport from the Stirling area.“The trends are quite clear..

but we have to embrace it as an opportunity, manage the decline and focus on the positive.“I’m very positive and officers across the council are very positive about the things we see in the Action Plan...while being fully aware it’s a challenging time for many businesses in the city centre and doing all we can to support them.”A Stirling City Centre Working Group was established made up of key council officers and representatives from the local business community including Go Forth Stirling Business Improvement District, Stirling Arcade and