The following analysis contains data for the devices at Barnard Marcus, Dorking Sports Centre, S.C. Fuller and Westcott & Williams.
- Total footfall in December 2021 across these four devices increased by 2.4% from the previous month. However, the late rush for Christmas presents was dampened by the emergence of the more easily transmittable Omicron strain of the coronavirus, causing some shoppers to stay away from crowded high streets.
- The Artisan Market on Sunday, 5 December helped to produce a 122% increase in footfall compared to the three other Sundays in the month. This figure was further influenced by the Hurtwood 50km trail running ultramarathon which led to more than 3,000 people descending on the Dorking Sports Centre that same day (some of which may have also passed by other devices), as well as Boxing Day also falling on Sunday.
- Footfall during January 2022 Is likely to be influenced by the scale of Omicron and related government advice or more formal restrictions being imposed.
Weekly Footfall Profile
- Figure 1 shows how weekly footfall has compared year-on-year for the month of December.
- There was a slightly less even spread of footfall between Monday and Friday compared to recent months, but similar fluctuations on these days in relation to December 2020.
- The proportion of footfall on Saturdays was 2.2% down on last year, being adversely affected by the fact that Christmas Day fell on a Saturday this year.
- Conversely, Sunday’s figure was 2.6% higher in 2021 and was inflated this year by the Hurtwood 50km trail running ultramarathon – the equivalent event was cancelled in 2020.
Overall Footfall Volume
- Figure 2 shows the weekly footfall throughout December across the four active footfall devices.
- The device at Barnard Marcus witnessed the largest footfall of the four active devices for all weeks during December, although was only marginally greater than both Westcott & Williams and S.C. Fuller for Week 52.
- Barnard Marcus witnessed an 11.5% increase in footfall in relation to November as the housing market continues to be buoyant with prices at an all-time high.
- The device at Dorking Sports Centre was the only one of the four devices to register a decrease compared with the previous month, falling by 8.7%. This was largely a result of the leisure centre being closed for Christmas Day and Boxing Day, as well as a reduced number of visitors during 27-31 December.
- Figure 3 shows the weekly footfall summary and how total footfall has trended in December 2021.
- The highest total footfall across all active devices was registered in Week 50 (31,555) and the lowest in Week 52 (25,687).
- Total combined footfall was almost identical in Week 49 and Week 50, but then decreased thereafter as fears regarding the transmissibility of Omicron took hold. Footfall levels were predictably low on Christmas Day and Boxing Day in Week 51, which was then followed by two Bank Holidays during Week 52.
Week on Week Change in Footfall
- Figure 4 shows the percentage change in footfall week-on-week during December 2021 for each individual device.
- Dorking Sports Centre witnessed a week-on-week decrease in footfall throughout December – the 26.3% reduction in Week 49 being caused by an inflated figure the previous week from hosting the ultramarathon. A combination of Omicron fears and closure for Christmas and Boxing Day were the key contributors to a 34.7% drop at the same location during Week 51.
- The footfall at Westcott & Williams remained steady throughout the month, even increasing slightly during the final fortnight. 31,553 31,555 27,683 25,687 0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000 Week 49 2021 Week 50 2021 Week 51 2021 Week 52 2021 Number of passers-by Weekly Summary -40% -30% -20% -10% 0% 10% 20% Week 49 2021 Week 50 2021 Week 51 2021 Week 52 2021 Percentage Change Week-on-week percentage change by device Barnard Marcus – 238 High Street, Dorking, RH4 1QR Dorking Sports Centre – Reigate Road, Dorking, RH4 1SN S.C. Fuller – 28-30 South Street, Dorking, RH4 2HQ Westcott & Williams – 41 West Street, Dorking, RH4 1BU Data and analysis by the Local Data Company www.localdatacompany.com
- Figure 5 shows the week-on-week change in footfall across all devices in Dorking during November.
- There were week-on-week decreases in combined total footfall for three of the last four weeks of the year, with only a very slight increase (amounting to just two additional passers-by) in Week 50.
- The biggest week-on-week percentage drop (-12.3%) came in Week 51 with Christmas and Boxing both falling in that week.
