Traders in Horsham have been left facing serious financial strain since the Swan Walk shopping centre closed on 12 July, after a roof panel collapsed and the centre was shut for safety reasons. The closure came at the start of the school summer holidays, one of the busiest periods for retailers, forcing many to find alternative ways to trade at short notice.
Some shop owners have secured temporary pitches at market stalls provided by Horsham District Council and Your Horsham Business Improvement District, though the space available is far smaller than their permanent stores. Traders have been focusing on their best-selling lines to keep cash flow moving, and local customers have continued supporting their favourite shops at the temporary locations.
The council and BID have set up a task force to support affected businesses, offering free market stalls and daily updates through a dedicated app, and have been praised by traders for their swift response. However, with no confirmed reopening date while investigations into the roof structure continue, traders say it remains difficult to plan ahead or make progress with insurance claims, which require firm timelines to process, SussexWorld reported.
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