THE first traders should be moving into Ledbury’s new shopping mall this weekend but more than half its units are still to be taken.

John Goodwin, the New Street-based estate agent who is handling the lettings, said that “hopefully six reservations” for units had now been made, out of a possible 15.

He added: “We will be looking for a grand opening when around three quarters have been taken.”

Owner Martin Eager also said he was looking forward to “a big opening” at some point. Mr Eager said he had hoped, initially, for a September launch for the 15-unit complex.

But contractual delays meant that fewer than expected units are actually set to start trading in the former Eager Electrical store.

He said: “Three or four traders will start moving in this week and once they start trading I hope it will encourage other people to come in as well but it’s been a slow process.”

He hoped the signed-up traders would be up and running in time for the Christmas rush, and units known to be taken in the mall include a clothing stall, a photographic and accessories shop and a shop selling mobile phone accessories.

There is also likely to be a dentist, although this is yet to be confirmed.

Mr Eager said a “substantial amount of money” had been spent converting the former electrical goods stall into the mall, but he declined to say how much.

Despite the slow take-up, there has been no shortage of interest in the form of enquiries, with 25 logged in just a few weeks, earlier in the autumn.

Eager Electrical closed down in the autumn of 2011 after being run as a family business for 53 years.

Mr Eager made efforts to sell the building as one undivided concern and in 2012 he engaged in talks with the pub chain JD Wetherspoon, but these petered out.