TWO years ago Christchurch town centre was credited with a so-called “microclimate”, shielding it from the ravages of the credit crunch.

Fast forward to 2011 and despite businesses having opened and closed in the town centre, Christchurch Borough Council and the Chamber of Trade insist the situation in the town has not descended into doom and gloom.

Despite the closure of Jarvis Radio more than a week ago, the council and Chamber of Trade believe conditions in Christchurch have not deteriorated and have even improved in some respects.

Applications for a Travelodge to occupy the empty Christchurch Medical Centre and another for a Pizza Express on the corner of Wick Lane and the High Street have been submitted this year, proof the historic town can still attract big business.

And while Lidl is due to open in Somerford on July 21, an application for a major supermarket at Meteor Retail Park was turned down by the council in April over concerns it would impact on the town centre’s vitality.

Leader of the council Cllr Ray Nottage said: “All we can do is supply energy and that is what we are doing.

“We have a team, led by our economic development manager Paul Riley, that is working to do just that.

“We are continually engaging with people and the Chamber of Commerce and are chewing over some ideas that will be put to them shortly.

“We are putting a considerable amount of energy into becoming a welcoming council.”

Cllr Nottage said an announcement would be made soon regarding Saxon Square to make shopping there a “much more pleasant experience”.

And looking to next year, he said he was hoping to market the town as a “must-see destination” during the Olympics.

Terry Atkinson, secretary of Christchurch Chamber of Trade and Commerce added: “I don’t think we are struggling.

“The loss of Jarvis is sad because they have been there for a long time but in general things are better than they have been for several years.

“Now we seem to have a very variable situation where some weeks business is good and others it is quiet.

“But the good news is, we can still attract people to invest in the town.”

He added: “You can’t really make comparisons to other high streets because it is totally dependent on the surrounding area, but in terms of other smallish towns we aren’t faring too badly.”