THINGS are looking up for a high street recently dubbed a “ghost town” due to the recession, it has been claimed.

As News Shopper reported last year, Welling High Street was hit hard by the closure of two supermarkets.

The Tesco store in Embassy Court closed for redevelopment, quickly followed by the closure of the Co-op for refurbishment after it was taken over by Morrisons.

But trader Pola Udemezue, who set up her salon Pola Hair Studio on the high street in 2005, claims things are now looking up.

She said: “Everything was looking good to start with but, as we know everybody’s been hit by the recession.

“We were seeing shops shutting and we were feeling empty.

“But we tightened our belts and said we’re staying here. Now we’ve been here five years, more customers are coming in and are seeing new businesses opening up.”

Ms Udemezue says the feedback from her customers echoes her feelings that the high street is becoming busier again.

A Tesco redevelopment is due to be finished next year while the new Morrisons is expected to reopen some time before Christmas, bringing two big names back to the town centre.

But secretary of the Welling Town Partnership John Abbott warned times were still tough.

He said: “At our meeting people did say that some traders are hanging on by their fingers really.”

But he added: “I suspect as soon as Morrisons opens that will be a major boost.

“Carpetright has also opened in the old Woolworths. Hopefully it will be quite a benefit for the area.”