Business leaders say Canterbury city centre has been “thriving” since the lifting of restrictions - with footfall figures edging closer to pre-pandemic levels.

The number of shoppers throughout August was just 10% shy of the amount counted in August 2019.

A total of 717,000 people were recorded to have walked along the high street last month, while two years ago that figure stood at 800,000.

Lisa Carlson, chief executive of the city’s Business Improvement District, says things are looking positive.

“We’ve seen footfall return to 90% of 2019 levels over the summer and the vacancy rate fell to 10%, with four new businesses opening last month,” she said.

“We are in a fragile recovery period with so many businesses nationally facing staff shortages and supply chain challenges, but commercial interest in the city is strong. Following on from full reopening in July, Canterbury has been thriving, in particular with a strong staycation market and more recently with the return of students and their families.

“Events like City Feast, Pride Canterbury and summer theatre in the Westgate Parks and the Marlowe forecourt animated the city, driving footfall and spend.”

Up until the end of August, a total four million people have passed through the city centre - a 13% increase from last year.

Statistics show that the 65+ age category is the most frequent to be recorded in the city (27%), while people in the 18-24 age range make the second largest percentage (20%).

Mrs Carlson says a solution needs to be found to the pollution problem at Stodmarsh nature reserve in order for the city’s biggest developments to take shape.

Progress on both the transformation of the old Debenhams site and the sprawling Nasons store has stagnated due to the environmental issue at the protected lakes outside the city.

The two huge premises remain empty blots on the high street, and they have now been joined by the old Costa site which stands vacant. It is, however, planned to be filled by pizza chain Franco Manca.

Jewellery firm Goldsmiths opened its revamped ‘luxury experimental’ store in Whitefriars on Friday, and the return of the city’s Medieval Pageant on October 16 is hoped to be a boost as it marks the start of the Canterbury Festival.

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