NEW businesses moving into a long-neglected Crewe town centre street have called for action to tackle grot spots that could harm their trade.

They say investment is needed to revamp High Street, where the street scene has suffered from a high proportion of boarded up properties and demolitions.

Their plea comes after Cheshire East Council launched a campaign, funded by the European Regional Development Fund, branded "Say hi to the High Street" to help businesses start up again after lockdown and direct them to grant aid.

The authority also says the area could be in line for future investment under the government's Future High Street Fund and Towns Fund.

In its campaign "High Street" is a generic term for town centres in the borough. But Crewe's real High Street has been plagued by waste, overgrown shrubbery and the dismal sight of shuttered buildings for a number of years.

Now several new businesses opening up say they need help restoring its image.

Adel Berry, launched her sweet shop business, Truly Scrumtious, when non-essential retail was permitted again on April 12, and she says there is an air of optimism among traders, but dereliction, fly-tipping and waste affecting part of the street is not helping.

She said: "It's a disgrace - any town's high street should be the hub of the town.

"Things are picking up and there's more businesses that are opening in the street. There's a children's theatre already here, and as well as myself, a craft beer bar and a health supplement business have opened up.

"It should be a good little street and it's a shame it gets overlooked. But it's not helped by its current state. There's empty buildings that are rotting away. There's been no investment in it over the years - all the attention has been on the town centre and retail park."

Demolition of the M Club, based in the town's former cinema, and a garage showroom at the southern end of High Street, has left a large area of vacant land that has become overgrown by shrubbery.

The former offices of the Crewe Chronicle have been empty since the mid-noughties and are among those blighting the area, while other former newspaper premises on the street have been boarded up for a number of years along with the large nightclub in the historic Kettels restaurant building and several other former businesses.

Traders say bins are discarded and rubbish has been left to pile up and Nub News pictures show a dead rat, that was left for days, on an adjoining pavement.

Alan Hinde opened up Craft Beer Oasis last month and says he is concerned about the state of the street as he looks to attract new customers and discerning drinkers interested in his real ales and craft beers.

He pointed out: "You've got waste bins that are left out that if they were in the town centre they would be sorted out straight away.

"The council has told me it's up to me to clear them. The whole street needs a good facelift and some cleaning up – and the council taking control and doing its job."

Alan, who had a 15-year stint running the Borough Arms on Earle Street, added: "This was an old furniture store in the past and the previous premises (Beer Dock) have been split with another business.

"We've refurbished and we've got regulars already, but we're waiting for May 17 as it's been too cold to sit out and people are still frightened to come out."

Volunteer litter-picking group the Crewe Clean Team says it appealed for big businesses nearby, including Tesco, Dunelm Mill and Home Bargain, as well as Crewe Town Council to form a team to keep the wider area clean.

Crewe Clean Team Chairman Dave McDonald said: "At the bottom of High Street is the delivery ramp to Dunelm and this has been a grot spot for many years.

"Thankfully, they are now beginning to make an effort and recently carried out a clean-up across the whole area, including the car park.

"This is very welcome, but little and often is what is required and we will continue to make sure that they are aware of the subsequent build-up of litter by regularly sending photos.

"The removal of waste is, first and foremost, a matter for the council. As a team of volunteers, we suggest solutions and carry out litter picks when and where our members suggest."

Cheshire East Council says its "High Street" campaign is aimed at informing people of the Covid-19 measures in place to protect them and remind them of the borough's "fantastic array of local businesses and the personal touch they offer".

The council has made Covid-safety posters available to businesses, while cash support is available including the government's Restart Grant from which more than £7 million has been dished out to businesses in Cheshire East.

Cllr Nick Mannion, chair of the council's economy and growth committee, said: "Working with a range of partners, the council's Crewe regeneration programme seeks to forge a new role for the town centre to make it a place where more people want to visit and stay for longer, both during the day and in the evening.

"As part of this, the council and its partners are pursuing major funding opportunities, including through the government's Future High Street Fund and Towns Fund.

"As part of these funding opportunities, proposals to improve the look and feel of key gateways to the town centre will be considered."

• A Cheshire East Council pilot scheme aimed at tackling problems with bin waste and fly-tipping on 26 streets and alleyways in Crewe was launched last month, but this is mainly focused on residential areas.