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Signs are currently being added to the new Comboco Mexican restaurant in the town’s shopping centre replacing a previously empty unit. It is the latest new restaurant to come to the Eastgate after the recent opening of Chopstix noodle bar on the top floor of the centre. The shopping centre has also been boosted by the opening of mini-golf bar Neon9s and coffee shop Caffee Royal London is preparing to open – sparking hope of a revival after big name closures in recent years.

Labour council leader Gavin Callaghan has welcomed the development of Eastgate and has emphasised the party’s commitment to increasing town centre footfall and encouraging back major retailers. He said: “The reality around the town centre is there are three phases, Eastgate is one area, the area around the cinema is another and Westgate is the third. “The truth is all three areas have big plans for what they will do.



From the council’s point of view, we must make sure it doesn’t become a construction centre for the next decade. “Eastgate is a critical point and it is why a lot of people come to the town, strengthening the offer in the shopping centre will be critical. “We haven’t given up on attracting back big retailers like Marks and Spencer’s and the high street brands that everyone wants to see, but every time they reach out, they say the same thing, that there is not enough footfall to justify opening a store here.

“We need to increase footfall. Anything that does that is welco.

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