Calls for Fleetwood's eyesore store to be smartened up

The former Store Twenty One building, on Lord Street, has been empty since 2016 and its condition has continued to deteriorate, despite originally being the town's biggest and most prestigious shop unit.

However, there are fresh hopes that a £1.7m high street fund for Fleetwood, following a successful bid by Wyre Council, could pave the way for the premises to be renovated in a way that improves its untidy appearance - and makes it safe.

Wyre Council says it cannot confirm at this stage if that will be the case.

The building is understood to be owned by a Salford-based charity which has has a faith background.

It was thought by some residents that the building still belonged to Marks and Spencer, which previously operated from the premises, but that is not the case.

Fleetwood's Labour MP Cat Smith has written to the charity imploring it to do something about the building, but has received no reply.

She has pointed out that one two occasions, parts of the building have fallen off and crashed to the floor, luckily avoiding serious injury to passers-by.

She said: "I have received a significant number of complaints from constituents in Fleetwood frustrated that the retail unit has being neglected.

"The appearance and poor maintenance of the building is such, that it’s having a highly detrimental impact on the town centre, on other retailers and on shoppers who are being put off by coming to Lord Street.

"No doubt the broken and boarded up windows also effect the chances of the building being let in the future.

“I am very disappointed that after three years of meeting with and writing to officers at Wyre Council, and tracking down the owners of Store 21 – a faith charity in Salford – that this building has continued to be left to rot on our high street."

She added that the building was a health and safety concern.

Last spring part of the former store's signage was ripped from the building by the wind and smashed into the pavement, and on another occasion a window fell out and crashed down.

Last winter the police revealed that organised criminals had broken into the building and had established a cannabis factory with plants estimated to be worth £3 million.

Those left in squalid conditions to tend the plants were identified as victims of modern-day slavery.

Fleetwood businesswoman Caroline Boot, who runs the Mole Hole gift shop on Lord Street, said: "It should not be Fleetwood's problem, it is the problem of the owners.

"They should give that building over to the town of Fleetwood before any money is invested in tidying it up.

"That shop unit should be an asset for Fleetwood but it lets the town centre down."

Ms Smith added: "As I’ve said before - Poulton, Cleveleys and Garstang wouldn’t be left with such an eyesore on their high streets so why is it okay for Fleetwood?”