SHOPPERS are being asked to contribute to a ‘health check’ on Bridport town centre as the number of empty shops increases.

Bridport Town Council, along with the Bridport Chamber of Trade and Commerce, is gathering evidence on how the centre is performing and is identifying where improvements will be needed to adjust to the ‘fast-moving world of high street retail’.

Retailers and shoppers are invited to take part in online questionnaires to collect feedback about Bridport from town retailers and from resident and visitors.

Early analysis shows a reduction in the number of retail premises, with an increasing number of empty shops or businesses moving out of the town centre.

Last year saw the Bridport branch of M&Co close its doors, along with long-established convenience store and newsagents Central News Plus on the corner of East Street and Barrack Street.

In May of this year the town lost its branch of bank HSBC in East Street.

The town council and the chamber of trade have been undertaking a Town Centre Health Check this summer.

A survey of services and products available in the town centre was conducted in July 2023.

The ‘Health Check’ is one of the actions identified in the Bridport Area Neighbourhood Plan 2020-2036 which recognised that Bridport’s retail and cultural diversity are critical elements for the future viability of the local economy as well as underpinning the quality of life for residents.

Town Centre Health Checks are a means of assessing the vitality, viability, resilience and performance of town centres over time.

The results of the health check will be used to formulate strategies for improvements and inform policy documents.

Pedestrian and car park surveys will continue to take place across the town centre into October 2023.

Alongside street surveys there are two online questionnaires to collect feedback about Bridport from town retailers and from resident and visitors.

The online questionnaires will be open throughout the summer and all fully completed survey forms submitted by the closing date of October 17 will be entered into a prize draw with a range of prizes on offer provided by Bridport Tourist Information Centre.

To complete the retailer questionnaire go to https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/OFZQFN/

To answer the shopper questionnaire go to https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/WNW4GF/

Hard copy questionnaires are also available from the Town Council offices (Mountfield, Rax Lane) and the Tourist Information Centre.

All data collected from the 2023 ‘Health Check’ will be held by the town council and made available to partners to inform town centre initiatives, development proposals and reviews of the neighbourhood plan.