A NUMBER of new businesses have opened, giving Bishop Auckland’s struggling town centre a much-needed boost.

Beverley’s Fashions, Store 21 fashions and Hunters estate agents, in Newgate Street; Diamond Interiors and Chic and Unique, in Fore Bondgate; and Simply Bathrooms, in High Bondgate; have started trading in the town in recent weeks.

In addition, workmen are currently renovating a shop for a Cooplands Bakery and another estate agents and a furniture shop are expected to arrive in the town centre shortly.

Bishop Auckland Town Team, which is a voluntary group set up to help boost the fortunes of the town, has been working hard to support new traders get up-and-running.

The town has struggled with numerous shop closures, new parking measures and the expansion of the out of town shopping park at St Helen Auckland, but the group believes there is a lot to be positive about.

The new traders have opened just weeks after TK Maxx became the latest national company to take a unit at the controversial Bishop Auckland Shopping Park.

Clive Auld, chairman of Bishop Auckland Town Team events, said: “I would like to think that Bishop Auckland is at this time bucking the trend when it comes to new businesses.

“Bishop Auckland is a great town and I hope local people will start to realise this.

“Great things are happening and I’m sure this trend will continue. Local traders are telling us of the numbers of new people visiting their shops, which is very positive sign for future success.”

He added: “The business community are well and truly behind Bishop Auckland.

“With the arrival of new businesses into our town, it is breeding new confidence and it is certainly telling us something. The future is good for our town.”

The 30 banners, which were erected on lampposts earlier this year, are sponsored by one of the businesses in the town.

• The next meeting of the Bishop Auckland Town Team will take place in the Four Clocks Centre, in Newgate Street, on Thursday, September 11, at 6pm. Refreshments will be served from 5.30pm. All are welcome.