The huge regeneration scheme by ING had been thrown into doubt by the current economic circumstances, but, she insisted: "Chester remains their number one priority and although the scheme will be delayed, it is very much still on the agenda.
"We are now looking at a three- year delay to 2012, but in the circumstances that is quite prudent. There are talks going on with possible joint venture partners."
The wide-ranging scheme will include a 150,000 sq ft department store to be occupied by the House of Fraser on three floors with a rooftop restaurant and dedicated delivery area.
Another 60 retail units of various sizes will complement the existing space available in the city centre.
There will be a new performing arts centre with three auditoria, a market with access onto Town Hall Square providing space for all the current traders who wish to move.
New restaurants and cafes will be created around a major new public square as a focal point for meeting and eating. In addition to all this, there is the £50m Castle Gateway mixed-use development at the former police headquarters and retail and office opportunities at the £34m Delamere Street project.
It is all designed to mould the city into a top European destination by 2015.
In Southport, the Southport Visiter newspaper, part of the Trinity Mirror stable, has launched a Christmas “Shop local” campaign.
The initiative, backed by Sefton Chamber of Commerce, aims to encourage people to explore what's on offer in the town’s array of shops, boutiques, village stores, farm shops, butchers and greengrocers.
The intention is to encourage buying locally-produced goods or spending money in local shops to keep wealth circulating in the community.
Some time ago, Friends of the Earth (FoE) launched a campaign urging people to support their local shops amid growing concern that unless shopping habits change, the great British high street will disappear. Friends of the Earth want shoppers around the country to shop locally and says that, by switching our shopping allegiances, we can also help in the fight against climate change.
Small shops are currently struggling to survive due to the power of the big supermarkets, with hundreds going out of business each year. The problem comes from the growing power of the supermarkets, with the four biggest already controlling over three-quarters of the grocery market.
A spokesman for FoE said: “Local shops are being put out of business on a daily basis because of the growing power of supermarkets. Popping to your local shop for a pint of milk will no longer be an option unless more shoppers change the way they shop.”
