Masterton branded a 'tumbleweed' city

EMPTY: Car parks at the northern end of Queen St remain empty.

The northern end of Masterton's central business district is starting to look like "tumbleweed" city and business owners want something done to revitalise the area.

Business owners at the northern end of Queen St spoken to by the Times-Age say since Mitre 10 moved out of the street, foot traffic has dropped considerably.

A story which ran in the Times-Age last week, after submissions to Masterton District Council blamed the arrival of "big barn" business to the town for stripping the area north of Lincoln Rd of vitality, has resulted in many messages being left on the Times-Age Facebook page about the issue.

Masterton MusicWorks owner Ray Butler said in the four years he had owned the business he had a noticed a major decline in foot traffic on the street.

"We are on the edge of the cusp here. People do come here because we are a speciality shop but other shops are suffering." He jokingly added: "Now and again you see the tumbleweed blowing down the street."

Something needed to be done to encourage shoppers to the northern end of town, Mr Butler said.

"We need some vibrancy here. Maybe a few different stores, chain stores to make people want to come here. The destination stores are doing all right, because they can be anywhere."

There are about 10 empty shops nearby.

Vanity Fair owner Alison Murrell said she had noticed a decline in foot traffic, as a result of chain stores such as The Warehouse popping up at the southern end of town.

"Years ago, the young mums would walk into town and pop in for a hair cut but now they don't."

It was just progress, Mrs Murrell said.

"It's part of the world evolving as it does. We've got a lot less foot traffic now Mitre 10 has gone."

When the Daniell's Building comes down the landscape could become more pleasing than looking at empty shops, she said.

"It's a real eyesore. The view will be wonderful once that comes down. Look at the shops with the ghastly white powder on the windows."

She suggests a high-rise apartment building would attract more people into the area.

"I remember when there were houses all down this end of the street."

Or maybe more buskers on the street would help, she said.

"Trouble is, there won't be anyone to give them any money."

King and Henry hunting and fishing store owner Tony Roseingrave said closed shops were leaving the street looking dark and dank, and unattractive to shoppers, especially in winter.

He pointed out how dark the street was by 3pm during the winter.

Traffic flow and full shops would liven up the area, he said.

"More shops will bring more people. We need more activity at this end of town."