Bumper crowds at Parkway
The project developer, Standard Life Investments, say more than 30,000 people visited the shopping centre on Thursday
MORE than 30,000 people visited Newbury's new shopping centre at Parkway on Thursday, according to developer Standard Life Investments.
Inclement weather failed to dampen spirits with thousands of people keen to sample the atmosphere and buzz around the new shopping centre, which finally opened after three years of construction and many more years of discussion.
The festivities started in the Market Place at 10.30am with a fanfare procession through the town led by Jack of Newbury, who was accompanied by street entertainers, musicians, stilt walkers and pupils from Speenhamland Primary School.
Upon arrival at the new shopping centre, the gathering crowds were then showered with ticker tape before speeches were made by the deputy chairman of West Berkshire Council, Adrian Edwards, and the head of real estate for developer Standard Life Investments, David Paine.
Mr Edwards said he had been waiting about 20 years for such a special day, adding that in his opinion, the new development was the answer to Newbury's future prosperity and growth.
He said: “It brings a 21st century shopping experience to Newbury which will attract people from not just the neighbouring towns and villages, but hopefully larger towns as well.”
Following the speeches and a subsequent ten second countdown, retailers then opened their doors at 11am, allowing swarms of shoppers to peruse the shelves and hunt an opening day bargain.
Mr Paine added afterwards that it was great to see so many people at the opening, but said there were further milestones still to come for the development, with the opening of the John Lewis at home store in the spring and the completion of the residential units in the middle of next year.
Parkway's centre manager, Neil Carter, said the visitor numbers reflected the pent up demand and anticipation among Newbury customers, adding: “This is a great day for Newbury and it is a really good step towards a great future.”
To see all the photos and videos from the opening day celebrations, click the link below to our picture gallery and the related stories link above.
Meanwhile, for further coverage on the opening weekend events, a history of the development and extended interviews with the key people behind the project, see Thursday's Newbury Weekly News.
