TAKE a walk along Morecambe promenade during the week and it is noticeable how many shops are closed.

This is due to the time of year, because many traders shut up shop during the early, quiet months of the year in order to save money.
But others, who remain open say perhaps all shopkeepers should follow their example for the benefit of Morecambe.

Steve Weatherhead, owner of Rita's Cafe on the prom, can't understand why other seafront businesses decide to close down on weekdays during the early months of the year.

"We were heaving on New Year's Eve," said Steve.

"But people who came in were complaining there was nothing to do, because very few other places were open.

"Businesses have to stay open over Christmas and winter.

"I can fill this cafe on New Year's Day. Why can't other businesses do the same? There was only us and a few others open.

"The prom was a ghost town."

Steve suggested that other businesses could do more to help themselves during off-peak times.

"They are happy to take the cream of the summer season, but maybe they should cut their prices and work through winter. If not, it will close the town down for everybody. People won't come to Morecambe.

"They complain that trade's terrible but that's only because they're not open when they should be.

"Now it's time for people to say: 'What can we do for the town?' They need to think positive.

"All these famous people are coming to Morecambe, but what image does it give to them if nobody's open?"

Coun Evelyn Archer, who represents Poulton ward, agreed with Steve.

"We're going to have to get away from the mentality of the summer season and that everything closes down at the end of September," said Evelyn.

"When the Midland Hotel and the new shops on the Frontierland site opens more people will be coming to Morecambe. They won't want to see shuttered-up shops and people not trading. It doesn't look good.

"Once the Midland is up and running we need to hold a meeting to come up with a consensus about when shops want to open.

"If most shops are closed, it means there is less to come onto the promenade for and it lets down those who stay open."

Tracey Bartosiak, of Chill juice bar, said she had been closed for 10 days in January but this was to decorate the premises, not because trade was bad.

"It's not been too bad over winter," said Tracey.

"We opened New Year's Day and were busy. Then we shut for 10 days. We needed to decorate and it's the best time to do it, people have eaten and drunk a lot over Christmas and New Year and needed a break.

"I can't say we've noticed a drop in trade at all."

Cath Large from Sweet Memories and Something Special – the new shops in the Winter Gardens complex – said she had experienced a tough first winter, but had no intention of throwing in the towel and is staying open five days a week.

"It's early days for us and it's going to take time," said Cath.
"The sweet shop died a death after Hallowe'en but Something Special has done OK.

"It's what I expected for our first year in business. But we need locals to give us a bit more support during the winter.

"I am going to stick it out. When the Midland opens it will improve. It's costing me money to stay open through winter but if everybody stayed open then people would realise that Morecambe doesn't shut down for the winter. "

Colin Smith, licensee of Ma Murphy's bar in Morecambe and Pub-watch chairman, said a lot of the town's pubs have also been struggling this winter.

"It's not the industry it once was thanks to Government legislation and breweries aren't making it easy for pubs either, by raising rent," said Colin.

"Overheads for pubs are going up and up and up, and there's so many of them. And since the smoking ban came in 10% of trade has been lost.

"I do OK because I'm not attached to a brewery. But it does affect me if other pubs were to shut down because people will say: 'Oh Morecambe's not doing very well, I'll go out in Lancaster.'

"In January and February people don't have as much money to spend, they stay in. Those who do go out, go out in Lancaster, when they should be giving Morecambe a try.

"It's a much safer place to drink since Pubwatch came in. So it's tough at the moment."