A SHOPPING outlet has hit back at claims it is failing, announcing it has made deals with four new retailers as part of a “masterplan”.

Freeport Braintree, in Charter Way, has more than 85 retailers.

But one shopper has said she was shocked at the number of empty stores after a visit on Sunday.

The centre has seen Trespass, Austin Reed and Tutti Grille up and leave in the last month, while there is another empty unit next to Burger King.

Amy Willicombe, 32, of Chelmer Road, Braintree, was shopping with her husband Simon, 42, and two children Charlotte, two-and-a-half, and Leia, eight weeks.

She said: “I went up to get some clothes and we were quite shocked that Tutti Grille had closed, it’s been there for a while.

“There are a lot of places opening and shutting.

“Trespass and Austin Reed were both having closing down sales.

“It looks like Freeport is becoming like the town with empty shops.

“We shop there because it’s an outlet store so it’s cheaper and because it’s convenient for us.

“We shop at Chelmsford sometimes and online. A lot of people say trade is being taken out of towns by online shopping but that’s because the shops aren’t there.

“If we had them, we would go.”

Freeport has hit back at the claims, pointing out that Austin Reed was forced into administration and has closed all its stores.

It is also in talks with prospective replacements for Tutti Grille and has promised “an exciting new retailer” to replace Trespass, which will move in September.

“Changing the line-up of stores at Freeport Braintree sometimes involves difficult decisions but they are carefully made in response to the demand of our visitors as we conduct extensive research every year to find ways of increasing their satisfaction with their overall experience.

“This is a measure which has increased for the last three years,” the spokesman added.