Skip to content

'Town centre isn't going back to historic times'

BBC A window emblazoned with Welcome to Crewe Makes, with other logos surrounding it. A blue framed glass entrance door can be seen on the rightBBC
The space was set up in an empty shop, and has been "really postive" for the town, a councillor said

A former shop that has been converted into an arts space has been "really positive" for a town centre, a local councillor says.

Crewe Makes has opened in the centre of Crewe, in a shop that previously housed an art and crafts retailer.

The centre has areas for artists to showcase their work. as well as a free drop-in space for the public to create their own pieces.

Fiona Wilson, from Cheshire East Council, said creating sites like the arts space in the town centre was "really important".

A view of inside of Crewe Makes, with children and adults working on art pieces. Paper stars are hanging from the ceiling, and paintings can be seen on easels.
The site provides a place for artists to showcase their work as well as members of the community to work on their own creations

The centre of Crewe has faced difficulties in recent years, with a number of shops closing after some retailers relocated to a nearby retail park.

The first part of a council-led regeneration scheme in the town centre, a new bus station and multi-storey car park, opened this year.

But a planned second phase, originally set to include shops and a cinema, was scrapped with the council citing rising costs and uncertainty after the axing of the northern leg of HS2 rail system.

Fiona Wilson, the vice chair of the economy and growth committee at Cheshire East Council - she has short hair and wears glasses, with a black jacket and a floral print top
Fiona Wilson said town centres are "moving into a different role"

Ms Wilson, vice chair of the council's economy and growth committee, told BBC Politics North West the town centre was "no different to any other town centre".

"The town centre isn't going to go back to the historic times when we had department stores and things like that, so repurposing empty shops and having something like this in an empty shop is far, far better than having a shop sitting empty," she said.

"From a council point of view, town centres are moving into a different role currently and town centres are more looking at things like hospitality, makers markets.

"Independence is very important on the high street," she said.

Novae Baghurst, the co-director of Crewe Creates which runs Crewe Makes, stands in the space, with dark bob-length hair, and is wearing a cream coloured sweater.
Novae Baghurst said the space was "something joyous in the town centre".

A three-year programme for Crewe's creative arts sector has received funding from Arts Council England.

Novae Baghurst, co-director of Crewe Creates which runs Crewe Makes, says she feels the space helps the local community be creative, supports people's mental wellbeing and was "something joyous in the town centre".

Ms Baghurst said some people in the town were "a bit bemused" as it was being set up, ahead of its opening at the end of October.

"They were all asking what type of shop we were," she said.

But she said the site's former use made it more welcoming for people.

"It's been really nice that people who wouldn't necessarily go into a traditional shop have come into our space because it used to be a shop".

Dawn Clark, from Crewe Town Council, stands in front of Crewe Makes' window. She has dark hair, is wearing a black jacket with a lanyard round her neck.
Dawn Clark said the town council wants to make the town centre more friendly for local communities

Dawn Clark, mayor of Crewe, said the arts space was a "piece of the jigsaw that has been missing".

It's part of a further cultural programme planned for the town over the coming years.

"We all recognise that our town centres have moved on, they're a different sort of space not just for selling goods and to make the space more friendly for communities," she said.

A sustainable Christmas tree made from empty plastic bottles, in the concert of Crewe Makes, with a window display on the left and a painting on a wall to the right.
Community groups have created works for inside the space

See more stories from Cheshire from the BBC and follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.