Revamp for town lacks support

I am responding to the article headlined "Revamp for town centre" (Shropshire Star, October 25). As one of the main traders in Cleobury town centre and one who will be adversely affected, I feel we are being railroaded into a "revamp" hardly anyone really wants. It will accelerate the decline of many businesses, as we rely on passing trade being able to stop. We are losing 13 vital parking spaces outside our shops, so the passing trade will pass on to the next place it can stop.

I take offence at the comment of it being "a tired-looking High Street". We have all had our shops and properties painted in the last couple of years.

We all put out hanging baskets, tubs and window boxes. The church wall has just been repaired and there are new railings in front of the Market Hall.

In fact Declan Curry did his BBC money programme from Cleobury in the summer and referred to Cleobury as a pretty, chocolate box town.

I can't see how a zebra crossing surrounded by Cot- swold stone and blue granite in a conservation area could "attract tourism".

With regards to safety, there is very little difficulty crossing the main road and the "worst minor accident area" refers to six minor accidents in the whole Cleobury area in the last 20 years. None were on the main street in the last six years, the representatives from the Shirehall told me.

As for the £2,500 grants to improve frontages, our businesses are listed buildings in a conservation area and we not allowed to alter the front.

We were not allowed to put frosted glass in our bathroom window because it could be seen from the street.

Carol Brown, Cleobury Mortimer