A TOWN council is looking to bolster its influence over the future of a struggling shopping precinct.

Spennymoor Town Council wants to have a bigger voice when lobbying for change at Festival Walk and is exploring what support it can offer to retailers.

The precinct has been a key concern for people in the town for years, particularly since its owners went into administration in 2009.

Many shops on the precinct, which is in the heart of Spennymoor high street, are empty and residents and traders feel it is an eyesore.

As part of an ongoing restructure the council has decided to expand the role of its planning and highways committee so it can review issues outside the authority’s control but which impact upon residents.

It will work other stakeholders, such as Durham County Council and Spennymoor Area Action Partnership, on issues such as the regeneration of Festival Walk and the town centre.

Members agreed to the change at a full council meeting last month (September) after Councillor Kevin Thompson Senior proposed setting up a cross party group to tackle the issue.

The council also plans to investigate the possibility of providing financial support to potential shop owners who want to move into units on Festival Walk.

Council leader Ian Geldard said: “It is a priority issue for people in Spennymoor, time and again it is the thing people raise and where they want to see change.

“The town council is the closest level of local representation and where possible we want to get the view of people across to those with influence.

“We want the town centre full of shops, doing well, to bring people into town and make it a viable and vibrant place that serves local people.”

Town clerk Pauline Waterson said the council has backed town centre regeneration initiatives such as the AAP’s shop local campaign and town maps and the AAP supported its creation of an art gallery in unused office space.

She said: “Those things, along with Durham Mining Museum moving into the town hall, has helped increase footfall in the town.

“But in terms of physically doing anything the best we can do is to be a strong lobbying voice for the people to get their views across.”

Cllr Geldard, who hopes the council can take action not just be a talking shop, added: “I want Festival Walk back to how I knew it as a kid growing up in the 90s.”