WHILE high streets across the country are suffering from the lingering threat of recession, business in Beeston appears to be booming.

The town saw a record number of people visiting over Christmas with more than 118,000 shoppers passing through the town centre in the last week of December.

The 118,184 shoppers was a 38 per cent increase from 2010 when 85,107 shoppers visited the High Road and was a 56 per cent increase on 2009, when the figure stood at 75,513.

Although the figures don't reveal how many people actually spent money, they are a good indicator that the area is vibrant and attracting people to the area.

Stephanie Wilkinson, manager of the Beeston Business Improvement District (BID) was delighted by the figures.

She said: "The figures follow what has been and will continue to be challenging trading conditions, but we are committed to doing everything we can to help to keep Beeston buzzing."

The Beeston BID has been running in the town for more than a year and, when it started, saw 467 businesses in 31 streets in Beeston and in High Road, Chilwell, paying either two or 2.5 per cent of their rateable value into projects which help boost the local economy.

The scheme is worth around £1.25 million, with £850,000 raised from businesses directly and a further £400,000 collected through public and private sector investment.

The aim of the BID is to promote the town centre and business in the area.

It contributes towards events such as the Chinese New Year celebrations and the Christmas lights switch-on, as well as initiatives such as new touch screens, which provide information about businesses in Beeston and have recently been installed along the High Road.

Miss Wilkinson said: "Beeston has such a diverse offering in terms of retailers and we have a huge range of independent shops here, but it can be tricky for people that are less familiar with the town to find their way around.

"The touch screens are an excellent way of putting those retailers on the map, connecting them to the shoppers in the town and giving them a greater presence."

Suzanne Garton, partner at Cast Hairdressing, in High Road, said she was positive about the future of business in Beeston.

Mrs Garton, whose company was recently named Employer of the Year by the Notts Training Network in recognition of their work with apprentices, said: "We've been running Cast Hairdressing for around nine years and we have built up a strong customer base in Beeston – we like it because it's a little town with a strong sense of community.

"The BID is a interesting scheme and really forward thinking and we've seen a lot of good come out of it.

"It makes sense to work together to promote the town and the ideas they have come up with like the touch screens are really positive.

"The last few years have been difficult for shops in town centres everywhere, but the future will be interesting with the tram coming. I am hopeful that after all the work has been completed, that Beeston can be put on the map."

She added that she was hopeful to see more investment in Beeston once the tram extension work had taken place.

"There are a lot of charity shops in Beeston and that is a bit of a downside," she said. "I understand the importance of charity, but a lot of people think there are too many.

"If the council and landlords could come up with some agreement with businesses to offer cheaper rents to lend a helping hand, then I think we would see some really creative ideas for new shops ."

But it's not only good shopping figures that are giving business a boost in the town.

A recent survey showed the vacancy rate for shops in Beeston town centre was eight per cent in October, compared with a national average of around 15 per cent.

Dan Walker, partner at estate agents and property lettings firm CP Walker and Son, said that such a high occupancy rate was pleasing to see.

"The survey shows that vacancy rates in Beeston are around half the national average, and if you look at the main shopping areas, they are largely full and most of the vacant units are near the Square, which will be developed soon," he said.

"The future of high streets is always portrayed as bleak but the figures here in Beeston as well as the occupancy rate is pretty encouraging.

"The town's centre will never rival somewhere like the city centre in terms of range of shops and we have to be realistic.

"The town centre is always busy, if you take a look at the High Road, you can always see people there, it's just a case for the shops of enticing people in."

Mr Walker added that the proposed town square development in Beeston should give the area a boost.

He said: "The Square is looking a bit tired and the tram is two years of work and it does pose some interesting questions about the future, but going forward it looks like a bright future.

"In terms of offering incentives to new businesses, this is what we do – we can't run a business just by sitting around waiting for the phone to ring."