MARTIN Leatherdale is not one for making empty promises.

Instead, the new manager of Lion Walk shopping centre in Colchester has high hopes to improve the town’s shopping experience and he will not rest until they are delivered.

National news has highlighted how high streets are suffering and the situation is the worst it has been since 2015.

UK high street footfall has declined by 4.5 per cent year on year.

According to Martin, however, Lion Walk’s footfall is not getting any worse so he is in a good position stepping into the new role.

Still, there is always room for improvement and Martin, who has a retail management degree, hopes to buck the trend and outperform the rest of the country with his plans for Lion Walk.

Martin, a father-of-three from Clacton, said: “It’s all about an immersive experience and putting on events such as our recent Lion King events.

“We have also been looking to get some garden games, a forest school experience and every day there will be arts and crafts through the summer holidays.

“I’ve been in talks with Our Colchester Business Improvement District team, Visit Colchester and Colchester United to make events relevant.”

Maldon and Burnham Standard:

  • Together - Martin Leatherdale (far right) with MP Will Quince (centre) and the Colchester community policing team

Over the past 12 years, Martin has developed a robust knowledge of the retail sector, leaving a career at Tesco where he led multiple regions, projects and commercial initiatives.

As well as events, another pillar of success for Martin is the aesthetics - making Lion Walk an attractive place to visit.

He said: “We have plans to take over the ownership of the public toilets from the council and give them a complete makeover.

“We will also work on landscaping and painting.

“Customers want to see events and listen to music, another thing we are doing is get a PA system so we can play music in the centre.”

Maldon and Burnham Standard:

  • Fun - the children had fun at the Red Lion Yard Street Party (photo by Optic Matter) 

Companies have already caught wind of the shopping centre’s potential, and Martin revealed the popular coffee shop chain Muffin Break will be opening this month in the old HMV unit next to Colchester library.

There is still some way to go in filling the empty units in Red Lion Yard, which Mr Leatherdale sees as one of the town centre’s gems.

He said: “I genuinely believe Red Lion Yard is the most beautiful place in Colchester to shop.

“Dear Grace is looking to expand and we have put some colourful lanterns down there which complement the colourful umbrellas in Culver Square.

“We will also be installing bistro tables and faux trees.”

Maldon and Burnham Standard:

  • Bright - colourful lanterns have been installed in Red Lion Yard (photo by Optic Matter)

There is no shying away from the fact empty units have turned people away from Red Lion Yard in the past.

In April Soul 2 Sole, a women’s footwear boutique, moved in as well as Beauty salon Brows.

They join homeware store Dear Grace but it still leaves some empty shops which Martin is confident will be filled.

Martin said: “It’s about making sure we get the right businesses down there.

“For example I’d love to see a florist move in. I want to make it an upmarket destination.

“There is a lot of negativity but I see it as an opportunity, for example pop-up shops which would be a priority.

“We could also use the vacant units to project films - it’s really trendy and innovative.

“It could almost be like the Trafalgar Square of Colchester, that’s the sort of thing we could do with projections and lights.”

With lighting an important aspect of the centre, Christmas celebrations are already on Martin’s mind.

The Lion Walk switch-on will once again be on a different day to the main high street celebrations but Martin said it will be the best Christmas yet.

He said: “We have enhanced budgets for lighting and decorations. We also plan to have a Santa’s Grotto, nativity scenes in windows of vacant unites, mulled wine and roasted chestnuts.

“We are also scoping the idea of a German-style Christmas market in the United Reformed Church car park.

“There could be scope for a military-themed switch-on with veterans and a military band.”

Aesthetics are important but security is equally as pressing and Martin wants to make it easier for officers to spend time in the town centre to deter criminals.

He believes his vision for the shopping centre is achievable, saying he is a believer in high hopes, but not empty promises.