High streets in the Vale of White Horse district continue to buck the national trend with footfall increasing significantly from the previous year. Surveys carried out across town centre locations in Abingdon, Faringdon and Wantage during September and October revealed that the number of people visiting each area had increased by an average of 15 per cent compared to same period in 2014, the third year running that footfall in the town centres has risen. The results are very impressive, especially when compared to the national average, as high street footfall continues to decline, dropping 0.9 per cent year-on-year (ATCM - High Street Index figures). The biggest increase locally was seen in Faringdon where footfall rose by a very impressive 25 per cent. Wantage saw a 19 per cent rise, while Abingdon’s footfall increased by eight per cent.
Cllr Matthew Barber, Leader of Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “It’s really promising to see that footfall in our town centres is continuing to rise. The more people we have coming to our town centres the greater the support for local traders and the more retailers there will be who may consider setting up shop in the Vale. “Our towns have been really good at putting on events to help attract people. We also have our two hours free parking scheme and the ever popular markets to help encourage more shoppers.”