Shopping centre closure a disaster, business says

A business owner in a shopping centre which has been forced to shut after a glass panel fell from the roof says the closure has been "a disaster" for him and others in the town.

Swan Walk Shopping Centre in Horsham has been closed since 12 July after the glass panel fell from the roof on the previous day, forcing businesses inside to close until at least 27 July.

Drew Dewsall, owner of Gobsmacked Comics in the centre, says the closure has meant the businesses need district council support to keep money coming in after it stepped in and offered market pitches for affected shops.

A spokesperson for the shopping centre's landlords says it will reopen "as soon as it is safe to do so".

Dewsall, who will return to the market on Wednesday as the closure continues, told BBC Radio Sussex: "To be shut for the best part of two weeks at the start of the summer holidays is a really bad time for us.

"The outgoings aren't going to stop. It is going to be tough, especially when payday comes around."

Dewsall says he is "very impressed" by Horsham District Council, which he says has stepped in to offer support by sourcing and paying for market pitches in the town.

The shopping centre announced on Monday that it would be closed "for the remainder of this week", while a spokesperson for landlords Hathaway Opportunities said testing was underway to find out the cause of the glass panel falling from the roof.

Rachel Hughes, of the You Horsham business improvement district said it was "great to see all of the businesses coming together to support each other" after those that remained open came together to offer help.

"Safety absolutely comes first, and there has been some really lovely businesses who have stepped forward," she added.

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