THE mysterious closure of a menswear shop in a prime spot in Leigh, with stock left hanging in the windows, has sparked calls for it for the building to be brought back into use as soon as possible.

Zinc Menswear in Leigh’s Broadway has been closed for a significant period of time – with some residents speculating the store has been shut for more than a year.

Debate erupted on Facebook last week around the shop – which specialised in high-end and branded men’s clothes – with residents pointing out it was still full of stock despite being closed.

Carole Mulroney, liberal democrat councillor for Leigh ward, said Zinc’s closure was a “shame” and the building should be utilised.

Mrs Mulroney said: “It’s a shame because that’s such a big shop in the Broadway.

“I thought it was an excellent store that was beautifully laid out and very pristine, it was obviously an upmarket store. I felt it had really quality clothes and shoes and always looked incredibly presentable.

“It’s a large retail outlet and ideally we’d like to get something else in there of a good quality that enhances the Broadway.”

Leigh traders have said they are not surprised for the closure, with some blaming high rent prices and the area’s parking policy.

Alan Clary, owner of Bubbles Pet Care, said: “It’s unsurprising because the rent prices are ridiculous down there and the parking situation is madness.

“People only go down there to have a coffee and that’s it, there a lots of people moving in from outside the area but still mainly shop online.

“It’s immensely frustrating because we used to do all of our Christmas shopping along the Broadway.

“Now we go to other towns where there are still independent shops.”

Other traders have blamed the two hour free-parking policy around Leigh Broadway for a loss in business and closures like Zinc Menswear.

Traders have said the policy benefits stores that require a longer stay like hairdressers and restaurants.

Another trader in Leigh, who asked to remain anonymous, added: “If you do some maths, there are 50 parking spaces around here and the regulatory periods for those come into force between 9am and 6pm.

“These are extremes but if everyone stayed for one hour, that’s potentially 340 different people in a day.

“Now that it is two hours, that’s been cut down to 225 people which will have a significant effect on turnover.”