Report by Local Democracy Reporter – Jon Cooper
Chesterfield Borough Council’s opposition Liberal Democrats have accused the Labour-led council of wasting money over its ownership and management of a struggling indoor shopping centre.
The Pavements complex, between New Beetwell Street and Market Place, in Chesterfield town centre, currently has a significant number of empty units and the TG Jones store – formerly WH Smith’s – has announced it is due to close after Christmas.
Liberal Democrat Cllr Maggie Kellman, who is disappointed with the state of the centre, revealed that the council bought The Pavements for £21.4m in 2021 but its commercial value by 2024 was just over £2.5m.
Cllr Kellman said: “Labour has failed to think out of the box to change The Pavements into a more modern attraction to actually bring in new visitors. This demonstrates both a lack of vision and a lack of planning.”
She added that it is also understood that The Pavements was bought in 2021 by the council for more than twice its commercial value at that time.
The Liberal Democrat Councillor stated The Pavements was bought in order to get the council out of an unfavourable 100-year agreement that had been signed 40 years earlier and which was about to become an expensive annual burden for the council for the next 60 years.
In 2025 the council appointed Milligan as the strategic asset manager for the centre at a fee of £99,000 per year which included providing a plan to address the existing challenges and to set out a strategy for the centre’s revitalisation.
The Strategic Asset Management Plan identifies coordinated recommendations across property management, leasing, marketing, car parking strategy and financial management.
Cllr Kellman added: “Regardless of how the Labour-run council got us into this mess, the key question is what now?
“Shopping centres are in decline all over the country. Councils elsewhere have bought and then re-purposed or even demolished them.
“But what is Labour’s plan for The Pavements? Apart from paying £99,000 a year to a management company.”
Cllr Kellman suggested the empty units could have been put to use for a Walk In NHS Centre promised by the Labour Government or to house and display historical artefacts placed in long-term storage during the closure and refurbishment of Chesterfield Museum, on St Mary’s Gate.
The council has offered reassurances that it is still committed to ensuring that The Pavements remains a key part of the town centre.
Labour Cllr Kate Sarvent, Cabinet Member for Town Centres and Visitor Economy, stated that units are actively marketed with competitive rates and the council is working with partners and investors to bring in renewed activity and where it operates as a landlord the council offers competitive rents and ongoing support for businesses.
Cllr Sarvent argued the town is already benefiting from ‘significant regeneration’ and is working closely with landlords, developers and investors to encourage more investment and to bring premises into use.
She added that the council supports independent retailers, offers market stall fees that are among the lowest in the region, and it is focusing on creating conditions for town centres to thrive despite challenges faced by high streets nationwide.
The Pavements was built 45 years ago and was opened by Prince Charles and Princess Diana. The council, which owned the land, bought the remaining leasehold in July 2021 to take complete control of the centre.
Labour Chesterfield MP Toby Perkins has also called for talks with the Post Office in a bid to maintain its town centre operation which is currently based inside the same TG Jones store that has been earmarked for closure by the New Year.
A Post Office spokesperson stated it wants to open a replacement branch as soon as possible but this can take around six months while it hears from interested retailers.
Chesterfield Borough Council was approached for a statement concerning accusations that The Pavements was bought at a loss and has been in a continued decline but at the time of publication it had still not commented.
