SAVE our town centre before it’s too late –that’s the rallying call from aleading Shrewsbury businesswoman to council chiefs, tourism officers and fellow traders.
Ann DiTella, who owns the Mytton and Mermaid hotel at Atcham and Mad Jack’s restaurant and delicatessen in the town centre, says the big supermarket chains and high parking charges are threatening local business and keeping customers away.
She feels so strongly about the issue, this week she approached the Chronicle to ask us to help win support for her campaign.
Her letter, printed below, asks why, on aSunday, people are queuing to visit the town’s Meole Brace retail park while the heart of Shrewsbury is virtually deserted? Likewise, similar towns such as Ludlow and Stratford are thronging with shoppers and visitors –but for Shrewsbury traders, footfall is decidedly lacking.
But this wasn’t always the case. During her 21 years in business in Shrewsbury, Ms DiTella remembers a time when the town was thriving, and parking spaces were hard to come by. Shops were bustling and the town’s restaurants bars, and cafes were always busy.
Ms DiTella’s aim now is to restore our town to its former glory. She is urging the town council to address the issue of parking charges and other ways of helping independent businesses; she wants Shropshire Tourism Association to join in talks with the local authority and business community to see what can be done to reverse the town’s fortunes; and she invites traders themselves to fight back with strategies such as more shops opening on a Sunday.
In fact, she would like to hear from anybody who cares about the future of our unique town.
She is offering the Mytton and Mermaid as avenue for those who share her fears, to join together and discuss ideas. She hopes to form a forum of interested parties to
tackle head-on the problem of Shrewsbury’s ever-emptying streets, and to develop ways of winning back shoppers and visitors and restoring our town’s vibrancy.
Ms DiTella said: “I do believe what we have in the town is fantastic. We offer unusual and bespoke shops… our streets should be thronging with people –and not just on a Saturday. Please help.
“Let’s be proud of Shrewsbury, get proactive and campaign to save Shrewsbury town centre.”
The Chronicle shares Ms DiTella’s fears for the future. Let’s all help protect our local traders, and make sure our children and grandchildren continue to enjoy the pleasure and rewards of independent shops and restaurants.
The Chronicle will do its bit to give small businesses a big voice, and over the weeks ahead we will report the progress of Ms DiTella’s campaign.
To get involved email Ann at: ann@myttonandmermaid.co.uk Let us know at the Chronicle what you think. Email editor Kim Bennett at: kbennett@shropshirestar.co.uk
Letter
AS a business owner in Shrewsbury town centre I am very concerned with what is happening (or not) to the amount of people that descend upon us .
After spending the last 21 years in business in the town, I feel somewhat familiar with the trends, I walk over the toll bridge in the mornings and three years ago you could
never park there because it was always full. Now it is empty. You can park anywhere at a price few can afford If the council’s intention is to limit the amount of people
coming in by car to the town centre, then they have succeeded.
On a Sunday people queue to access Meole Brace Retail park and our town centre is empty. Why ?
After a recent visit to Llangollen on a Sunday it was packed and thriving with visitors. Why ?
After a visit to Ludlow recently it was also packed and thriving. Why ?
While we charge what we charge for parking – £4 per day or £1.50 for half an hour – and while we have traffic wardens hounding people we will continue to support the
queue outside Meole Brace.
Ludlow charges 10p for half an hour and £1 after that initial half hour . Park and ride is a great service but not suitable for a lot of people’s needs and their necessity to have a car.
Can our tourism association team up more with local businesses to create ideas to get people into the town?
Llangollen and Stratford upon Avon manage too and we equally have a beautiful town with lots to offer. Can our council not help?
Is there not a forum that the council, Shropshire Tourism and local business could get together?
Would it not help if more shops opened in the town centre on a Sunday? It is so hit and miss, even in the shopping centres. As a town we need to be consistent and people
need to know what to expect .
As a business we support as many local producers as we can but how will we all survive if there is not enough footfall in town to support us?
We need help or we will end up with a town full of high street stores that is the same in every other town. I recently opened a delicatessen in town to find out that two months later a Waitrose was opening!
Times are hard and if we don’t make it easier for people to access our town and invite more visitors I fear for the small and independent businesses.
What we have in the town is fantastic; we offer unusual and bespoke shops – our streets should be thronging with people and not just on a Saturday. Please Help.
Let’s be proud of Shrewsbury, get proactive and campaign to save Shrewsbury town centre.
I am willing to provide a meeting venue at the Mytton and Mermaid Hotel for all interested parties – the council, tourism officers, businesses and anyone else who would like to be involved – to kick start the effort needed, and we offer free parking!
Yours faithfully,
ANN DITELLA.