FURTHER high street casualties are forecast as shoppers bypass a "void" that has split Plymouth city centre in two.

As Drake Circus Shopping Centre continues to entice the hordes, traders in Plymouth's West End are predicting a hugely difficult 2012.

Peacocks, Pumpkin Patch and Hawkin's Bazaar are among the national retailers to hit financial difficulties since the year began.

The latter, whose shutters are already up, added to a growing list of empty buildings in lower New George Street, still reeling from the closure of Derry's, Woolworths and TJ Hughes.

That once-bustling area of the city centre now attracts just a third of the shoppers who head to Drake Circus.

Footfall figures for this month show around 60,000 people enter the mall on Saturdays. That compares to around 35,000 in upper New George Street and 18,000 in the West End.

One shop owner, Dave Moor of specialist beer retailer Moor & More Beer, said the Independent Quarter was facing "major problems".

Despite a record-breaking Christmas, he fears it could be "too late" to rescue locally-run shops in Frankfort Gate, where he believes the decline of lower New George Street has seen customer numbers plummet.

Mr Moor said: "This end of town, I'm afraid, has got major problems. The opening of Drake Circus has split this city centre right down Armada Way.

"You step off Armada Way one end and it's full of people; the other, it's silent. You can't believe it's the same city centre.

"We've lost some very big shops that might have attracted people down here – and nothing seems to be happening to address this.

"Most people are struggling on, but we wonder how long we can continue with decreased footfall in this end of the city centre."

There are currently five empty units in Frankfort Gate, two of which are set to be occupied by Plymouth Community Homes.

"You just wonder if this is the beginning of us having problems," Mr Moor added. "I'm beginning to believe it's too late to save some of the businesses down here.

"Times are tough. It looks like we're in for a period of stagnation and why should people start spending their money when things are uncertain?"

However Val Cass, at nearby gift shop Beaux Cadeaux, said she exceeded sales targets over Christmas.

And Ray Robins, City Market Traders' Association chairman, said the nearby Pannier market was 97 per cent full and still attracting interest from would-be stall holders.

"I wouldn't say by any means that trade is fantastic," said Mr Robins, also of Express Goldsmiths.

"But what we are doing is fighting our corner and maintaining our market share. If you come into the Independent Quarter now, you'll find there are very few empty shops."

There are currently 52 vacant retail units in the city centre – 11.3 per cent of the total number.

With the national average sitting somewhere between 11 and 14.3 per cent, Plymouth appears to be outperforming many other cities.

"Plymouth is still a vibrant place to come and shop," said city centre manager Clint Jones. "We are doing reasonably well, but we could be doing better.

"I absolutely believe that we'll see further closures on the high street, but I'm also hopeful that we'll fill some of those vacant premises."

Speaking at a council scrutiny meeting earlier this month, assistant director for economic development David Draffan admitted the area around lower New George Street was "where we have most concerns."

But the former Woolworth's, Derry's and TJ Hughes buildings are now all being actively marketed, Mr Jones confirmed.

He said closures in lower New George Street were primarily a result of national chains hitting the wall.

"It's nothing to do with the actual location," Mr Jones insisted. "It's the companies themselves and the type of retailers that settled there when it was a prime retail area. In many cities you'll find this type of area."

But he added: "It has left us with a big hole [and] if you create a void in the centre of two major shopping areas you're not giving the customers encouragement to move through that space.

"I think that absolutely is a concern for the retailers in the West End of the city. The retail market place at the moment is a very tense place for people to be operating in."

Mr Jones said empty units could become a "living art gallery" for city students. The City Centre Company is asking landlords for permission to use vacant stores for art projects.

West End traders – critical of high rental prices, especially in Frankfort Gate throughout major roadworks last year – praised Plymouth City Council for improving parking in the area. Events at the Big Screen had also helped encourage shoppers into the city, they said.

Cllr Ted Fry, the council's Cabinet member for planning, development and strategic housing, described the city centre as a "comparatively thriving business community".

"Plymouth is open for business and discussions are progressing with significant partners, investors, developers and Government ministers," he added.