THE man in charge of High Wycombe's new shopping centre has hit back at negative comments from Bucks Free Press readers.
For the past four weeks readers have flooded our office with letters either praising or slamming the multi-million pound Eden centre - and their comments keep coming.
But this week Daniel Tomkinson, Eden centre manager, answered shoppers' complaints over the design of the 675,000 square foot centre, the empty units inside it and the teething troubles they had experienced in the carpark where barriers and ticket machines have sometimes failed to work.
Mr Tomkinson said: "Since we have opened I think some people are surprised it's not more enclosed. It's been designed in that way for a very good reason.
"From the outset the intention with Eden was that it forms an integral part of High Wycombe town centre.
"If we had a shopping centre that was completely closed it would become a destination, and there would be little incentive for customers to spill out and enjoy the benefits of High Wycombe as a whole."
He added the open 'street scape' design of Eden also had an environmental impact as it was "naturally ventilated" and did not require a lot of heating or cooling.
Responding to readers' comments about the centre's carpark he said it had been a "huge challenge", but staff training had gone on since its March opening to improve it.
"Since we opened we have had over 100,000 cars parking with us," he added, "With a new carpark it takes a period of time for both customers and operators to get used to the way in which it works, when it reaches those kind of demands."
Shopaholics will be pleased to hear, meanwhile that some of Eden's empty units will soon be filled.
Mr Tomkinson announced that in the next six to eight weeks, ten more will be opening including two extra restaurants.
He said: "There's a lot of activity going on. We have an incredibly strong offer with the 70 plus shops we have open at the moment, and as time moves on.
"There's a lot of activity behind the hoardings and you'll see a lot more openings coming up very shortly."
Lesley Clarke, Wycombe District Council leader, also hit back to reassure residents the rest of the town had not been left behind in Eden's hype.
The council is keen to turn a lot of the High Street into an area of cafe culture, and plans are underway to fill empty shops.
But Cllr Clarke warned residents could not expect to see a transformation overnight.
She said: "We do understand there's a problem in the High Street and I think that with any high street in the land we have got problems."
She added: "We don't want lots and lots of pound shops, that's not what we're about. We want to move away from that and hopefully people will see resurgence.
"We have got a new market, which is working well. I walked down the High Street today, there are a lot of people on it so I don't believe that the High Street is dying."
Watch our interview with Mr Tomkinson and those for and against the centre by clicking the link above.
