WYRE Forest District Council has invited a Channel 5 star back to Kidderminster after his scathing review of the town's high street.
The invitation from the council comes after Property tycoon Rick Gannon, who starred in the Channel 5 show Rich House Poor House, visited Kidderminster as part of his 'Death of the high street' social media series.
As part of this series, Gannon visits towns and cities, explores their high streets, and highlights closed-down businesses and empty retail units.
In the latest instalment of 'Death of the high street' filmed in Kidderminster on Monday (June 29), Gannon said that he 'wasn't prepared' for what he found in the town and was 'bowled over' by the number of empty shops.
He said: "I went to Kidderminster yesterday to see the state of the high street with my own eyes.
"I wasn’t prepared for what I found. Shop after shop boarded up, shutters down, for lease signs everywhere.
"The mall that used to be packed with families and shoppers now has just one shop left open. One."
In response to Gannon's review of Kidderminster's high street, Councillor Dan Morehead, cabinet member for economic regeneration planning and the green agenda for Wyre Forest District Council, has invited the Channel 5 star to return to Kidderminster.
The council has told the Kidderminster Shuttle that Cllr Morehead would like to 'acknowledge' Gannon's points and would like to do an in-person walkabout in Kidderminster town centre with him to explain what the council is doing to address the trends in retail, particularly on the high street.
A Wyre Forest District Council spokesperson said: "We look forward to hearing from Rick Gannon on this."
The council's invitation to Gannon also comes after Cllr Leigh Whitehouse, independent district councillor for Blakebrook and Habberley South, called for 'meaningful action' to improve Kidderminster's town centre.
He said: "The reality is that our town centre continues to deteriorate and it’s clear that one or two projects alone won’t solve the wider issues.
"It’s time for the community, local businesses, elected members and senior decision makers to come together and take meaningful action to improve things once and for all. Our town deserves better than this."
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