Letter: Church Stretton’s doing all right, thanks very much
Thursday 2nd June 2011, 6:00AM BST.
Letter: I wonder if our mayor was misrepresented when he said (Shropshire Star May 11) that he wanted “to promote the economic regeneration” of Church Stretton, conjuring up the spectre of a down-at-heel and depressed little town?
As a resident and member of the town’s chamber of trade, I take satisfaction and pride in noting that our town has fewer empty shops than anywhere else I can think of.
Local traders are undoubtedly feeling the effects of the recession and are working ever harder to mitigate them, but many believe that they are fighting with one hand tied behind their back.
As well as a dismissive town council, epitomised by the statement above, we face a misguided civic society which, in describing us as a “minority sect”, shows an alarming lack of understanding of the dynamics of a market town.
John Gott
Church Stretton
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I also live in Church Stretton and to be honest you cant shop there at all there is nothing to choose from both food stores are over priced ! clothes shops you need to take out a mortage to purchase from them ! So Stretton needs to get off its ” i am better the any other town ” soap box and put some effort in atracting more traders to the town , At present i and i am sure alot of Church Stretton people have to go to Shrewsbury to shop .
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I’m a resident of the town and whilst I agree there are too many “expensive” shops, it is great to see not one (I’m not making this up) retail unit empty at the moment. The town could do with development so more retailers and other commercial businesses can set up here.
This month there is consultation on the proposed town centre enhancements (widening the pavements on High Street, etc) and I hope people take part and support the proposed works, which would be done early 2012.
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I agree it is good to see no empty units in Stretton but there are so many more retailers that could set up in Stretton i know of one local independent store (which isnt over priced !)that wants to open in Stretton but there is no units , So all for more units
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Oh what a shame, Stretton is a lovely town with some nice niche shops selling goods in order to make a living pay thier business rates & taxes. All of which benefits communities generally. The number of residents we speak to want to support local traders because that is good for the vibrancy of the town. Visitors love the place, not just for the AONB but for the town as well.
Yes it is doing OK but complacency is even more dangerous than denial about badly needed
improvements, which if carried out will enhance our High St, make it more comfortable for pedestrians with a knock on to the ability to observe the retail offer. IF the shops are too expensive they will eventually fail by default & I do not see too much of that, so lets stop the sillyness & get on with
building a cohesive community that most other communities and visitors love and envy.
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