A YOUNG businessman has called on Kirklees Council to give town centre traders more help.

Alan Kane set up Dais Boutique at Byram Arcade straight after leaving university 18 months ago.

The 27-year-old from Marsh wants to open a second store at a much busier spot just down the road on Kirkgate.

Mr Kane told the Examiner that he hoped Kirklees could give him a larger discount on rent for the former Compuserve site at the corner of Wood Street.

“They have told me they could give me £500 off the £14,000 annual rent. I think it’s important that the council helps us,” he said.

Mr Kane set up his independent fashion shop in a 350sq ft unit in Byram Arcade after completing a course in advertising design at the University of Huddersfield.

He wants to open a second store in the 450sq ft former Compuserve store, which is owned by the council.

“It’s a good size and it’s in a really good location, opposite Merrie England,” he said.

“There’s great footfall. The amount of people who come into Byram Arcade on a Saturday, you would get the same in 20 minutes on Kirkgate.

“We’re doing really well in Byram Arcade and it’s a beautiful building but there’s only so much space there.”

Mr Kane, who moved to Huddersfield from Manchester when he was 18, is enthusiastic about the town.

“A lot of people think Huddersfield is going down the pan but there’s so much going on here,” he said.

“It’s always been a really, really creative place for music, fashion and art.

“I love the town and that’s why I haven’t left. I could go to the Corn Exchange in Leeds but I want to see Huddersfield thrive.”

A Kirklees spokeswoman said last night that the council helped town centre traders in many ways.

She said: “The council can provide assistance in supply chain development, establishing business links; apprentices and training; broker services with other public sector organisations; rate relief – which this company already gets at 100% as a small business – as well as help with carbon reduction practices.

“We are happy to meet Mr Kane to give advice on this assistance.

“The negotiations on his premises lease are still underway and are confidential”.