Council plans to spend £100,000 on revamp of shopping centre and toilets

Herefordshire Council is expected to invest £100,000 on revamping Maylord Shopping Centre and refurbishing the public toilets.

The county council bought the Hereford city centre site for around £4.5m earlier this year.

And now they have been granted £750,000 of central government funding which they will use for a series of projects through out the city.

Commissioning, procurement and assets cabinet member Gemma Davies asked a meeting this week whether the £100,000 earmarked for Maylords would go toward refurbishing the public toilets.

Council economic development manager Nick Webster said: “I can confirm that the majority of that £100,000 is for the toilets which would bring them back into use.”

Environment, Economy and Skills cabinet member Ellie Chowns said this investment will help drive footfall and improve the quality of life for everyone in the city centre.

The council says it secured control of Maylords in June 2020 to prevent the shopping centre falling into further decline.

They want to redevelop the site to produce medium to long term opportunities for local businesses.

The council says it needs to make a small capital investment to allow some of the vacant units to be used by pop up retailers and creative industry businesses.

These units would be available on short term leases on a cost covering basis only.

And a larger unit would be established for several market style stalls for businesses from across the county to be able to display and sell their produce in the heart of the city centre.