Mell Square owners donate £5,000 to Solihull Shopmobility service

Owners of Mell Square shopping centre, IM Properties, have stepped forward to help fund Solihull Shopmobility for 12 months.

The charity is reliant on donations to help with the maintenance, operation and renewal of its fleet of electric scooters and wheelchairs.

These enable people with disabilities and mobility impairments to access the goods and services available in Solihull town centre.

Cathy Stoll, chair of the charity, said: “We are very pleased and grateful to IM Properties for its very generous donation of £5,000 and recognising the value of the service that the charity offers.

“Mell Square shopping centre was instrumental, together with Solihull MBC and the charity in setting up the service originally in the 1980’s.

“After the withdrawal of funding we have been dependent on our partnership with Touchwood and other key stakeholders in Solihull, such as Mell Square, to maintain this important community service.

“Thankfully now we can continue the service throughout 2017 and beyond.”

IM Properties has been investing significantly in Mell Square, since it took over ownership in 2013, funding many of the community initiatives and events seen in the square – which in 2017 will include an online wedding fayre, summer events and celebration of the shopping centre’s 50th Birthday.

The locally based property company is currently investing £5m as part of its Poplar Way improvements and St Alphege Place development at the junction of Drury Lane and High Street.

This will see Italian restaurant and deli chain, Carluccio’s opening in spring 2017, taking the ground floor of a brand new four-story building with office accommodation above.

IM Properties also recently successfully achieved planning to change eight existing retail units leading down from Carluccio’s to the main square into three, larger more appealing restaurants with outdoor seating area, to create a street cafe culture.

Rob Hemus from IM Properties said: “We continue to work hard with Solihull BID and the management team at Mell Square to support the tenants and develop a sense of community, with many events staged in the town centre during key periods.

“Shopmobility is an integral service for the community which we are delighted to support to ensure complete enjoyment of the wide offering in the town centre.”

For more information or to become a member of the Solihull Shopmobility service, visit the desk in the Welcome Hall of the orange sector of Touchwood car park, where the staff will be happy to help.

The free Shopmobility service is open daily from 9:30am to 7pm Monday to Saturday and 10:30am to 4pm on Sundays. Equipment can be booked in advance by calling 0121 709 6980.