BY SIMON BELGARD

Harrow town centre has slipped one place in a survey of London's top shopping destinations but the town centre manager is ready to launch it into a bright future.

A survey by retail analysts Experian showed that Harrow is now ranked as the eighth best shopping destination in London out of 67 centres.

Nationally it is ranked 87th down from 80th in 1998.

But the analysts admit that the survey, which only takes into account the number of vacant units, the overall amount of retail floorspace and the presence of major stores, is limited.

Looking to the future Graham Pentecost, Harrow town centre manager predicted that shoppers will benefit from a range of improvements.

He said: 'In St Ann's we have just completed work on spaces for six street traders, four barrows and two kiosks.

'The money raised from renting the kiosks will be used solely in the town centre'

One of the kiosks has been earmarked for use as a cafe which will boast pavement tables so shoppers can sit and watch the world go by as they take a break from making their way around the shops.

Mr Pentecost added: 'There is a programme of street performances and festivals planned in the centre which go towards improving the whole experience of shopping.

'And our investment in CCTV improves security and makes shoppers feel safer.'

Experian's survey, unsurprisingly, placed the West End as the top shopping centre in London and across the UK.

Bromley, Kingston-upon-Thames, Croydon and Sutton filled the rest of the top five, with Ealing Broadway coming in at ninth.

It also showed that while the capital remains the dominant shopping destination in the country, larger regional centres in places such as Glasgow and Birmingham and Manchester are starting to gain ground.