A MANAGER could be hired for a year to help boost trade in three towns.

Braintree Council is considering paying £50,000 to bring in a town centre development manager to promote Braintree, Witham and Halstead town centres to businesses and visitors.

The job would involve working with existing retailers and potential new traders, promoting the towns as vibrant shopping centres, reviewing parking policies, organising events, managing outdoor markets and promoting the strengths of each town. Another aim is to get traders into empty shops in each town centre. Braintree currently has 19, Witham ten and Halstead six.

Nigel Harley, councillor responsible for enterprise and culture, said: “We have a real concern because of the effects of the recession and what it’s been doing to shop lettings.

“There are a lot of empty premises in the town centres.

“We felt we would really like to concentrate on that. Nobody at the council has that responsibility at the moment.”

The 12-month temporary post would be funded by a Local Authority Business Growth Incentive grant, from the Government.

The council has considered a similar plan before. It set aside £25,000 in 2002 to hire a manager, and asked local businesses to chip in a similar amount, but the money was never forthcoming.

Colchester and Tendring already have similar managers and Mr Harley said the council had heard positive reports from other towns which had town centre managers.