RISING visitor numbers at Chester’s Forum Shopping Centre is fuelling hopes that the run-up to Christmas could see the beginning of the end of the recession, said centre manager Lawrence Allen.

The first three months of 2009 had seen footfall figures at the Northgate Street retail centre rise, year-on-year, by a healthy 3.6% before falling off during the summer holiday period.

But now shopper numbers are on the rise again – significantly earlier than the anticipated pre-Christmas rush.

“Our footfall figures confirm that the number of shoppers using the Forum is on the increase again and there seems to be a more positive mood about trading conditions,” added Mr Allen.

“We would expect an increase in trade in the lead up to Christmas but this increase in footfall is occurring too early to be put down to that. Hopefully this up-ward trend will continue through the rest of the year and onwards.

“We are quietly pleased that the centre as a whole has continued to attract shoppers through some very difficult times. This is partly due to our value-for-money reputation as well our friendly service.

“Unlike some town centres, the Forum has managed to ensure that the vast majority of our retail units remain occupied giving our customers the widest possible choice. Let’s now hope we can look forward to improving economic conditions.”