TEMPORARY shops could soon be popping up across Wantage as part of a scheme to boost local business.

Iain Nicholson is one of two town team coordinators appointed to improve the local economy, and his job is to fill the 23 shops currently on the market.

A business public relations specialist who lives in Bletchingdon, North Oxfordshire, he is in discussions with landlords and agents about preparing a town prospectus to attract new shops to Wantage.

And he has come up with some ideas for using the empty units in the meantime.

He said: “We have been considering having one or more ready-to-go units as pop-up shops.

“Businesses would come in on a short lease or licence to test the market for their business. This would bring empty properties back into use more quickly, and you can build on the momentum and increased footfall.”

On Mill Street, there are currently 10 empty commercial units including the former Shears pub, and the buildings which used to house Bartlett’s Carpets, Chameleon off-licence and Ambassador Travel, which went into liquidation in January.

The Creative Cookshop moved from Victoria Cross Gallery to Mill Street in March to take advantage of passing trade, and co-owner Geoff Peck said they had already seen “infinite improvement.”

The businessman said he approved of the idea of using pop-up shops to make the town more inviting to businesses.

He added: “Empty shops generally look quite scruffy – if you can improve them it raises people’s estimation of the place straight away. I think pop-up shops are a great idea.”

Along with Mim Norvell, who lives in Wantage, the two Wantage town team coordinators were appointed by Vale of White Horse District Council.

The Vale was given £100,000 for the project from the government Innovation Fund, divided into £22,500 each for Abingdon, Botley, Faringdon and Wantage.

Mr Nicholson said there are seven properties on the market in the “advanced stages of discussions” with potential owners about being refitted.

And between five and 10 of the properties are in the early stages of such discussions.

He added: “With Mill Street you could go back in time and find it much busier than today, but my view is that it has got the right size and type of properties to have an exciting and positive future.

“I don’t believe it will take years to get back to that position, it will take months.”

A South Oxfordshire retail vacancy survey carried out last September found Wantage had 26 vacant units out of a total of 183 – 14 per cent. By comparison, Wallingford had 15 vacant units out of 140, around 10 per cent.