Slough town centre should get a ‘deep clean’ every three months and vacant shops should be opened up for temporary uses a councillor has said.

The call from Labour councillor Christine Hulme is set to be debated at a meeting of Slough Borough Council on Thursday July 25. It comes as part of a demand for updates on plans to revive Slough High Street.

Councillor Hulme says: “More shops are closing, crime and anti-social behaviour is rampant, and no further investment seems has been secured for our town centre, that is making a positive material impact to the lives of residents that live, work and visit in the town centre.”

She is calling for the council to introduce a ‘meanwhile use’ policy in the town centre. This is where vacant premises are let out or opened up for temporary uses before long-term occupants are found or major redevelopment takes place.

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Councillor Hulme also wants the council to get an update from landowners on the redevelopment of the Queensmere and Observatory shopping centres.

Plans to demolish the two town centre shopping malls and replace them with new businesses, shops and homes were approved by councillors in September 2022. But no work has since been done.

In an update last week Slough Borough Council said it was close to signing the final legal agreements needed for formal planning permission. It said the landowner the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority may then seek another developer to take the work on.

Councillor Hulme wants the council to come up with a ‘plan B’ if the development doesn’t go ahead.