Councillor’s message to people who want more shops in Westbury

A westbury town councillor has urged people to shop local to protect the “dwindling” number of local shops.

Gordon King says people’s online shopping habits have transformed the town centre.

At a meeting of Westbury Town Council on Monday, 3rd March, Cllr King said, “When I was a boy at the local school here, there must have been 60or 70 shops in Westbury. You could buy anything you wanted here. But over the years the number of shops have been dwindling for various reasons; social and digital.

“From the noughties we saw a lot more online shopping. Every time you order from Amazon or any other online place, a shop will be at risk of closure somewhere. If you want more shops in Westbury, you’ve got to spend your pound here.”

Cllr King’s comments came in response to a question by local resident Brenda Wise. She has lived in the town since January 1991 and wants to see a greater variety of options on the High Street.

Brenda had told the Town Council meeting, “What I don’t understand is why every time a shop goes empty or out of business, we get another charity shop. I love a charity shop but why don’t more people come into the town to start a new business?

“I was on a walk down at the Lakeside and spoke with a lovely young couple with two children who have been here since 2014. I asked them what they thought of Westbury and they said “not much” and said it would be nice to have more options. I think it’s really time something is done about this.”

In response, Cllr Philip Harcourt raised the fact that charity shops pay heavily reduced business rates which can lead to more of them on high streets like Westbury’s.

Meanwhile Westbury Mayor Jane Russ thanked Brenda for her contribution, adding, “We have now got a Town Development and Engagement Officer who is working with the shops in Westbury already to try and bring up the feeling in the town. But we cannot make people open a business in the High Street, they have to want to do it.”

Brenda was also invited by Councillor Mark Bailey to discuss the work of the Vision for Westbury Committee. The group meets to discuss plans to regenerate the town centre and members of the public are free to attend meetings and observe discussions.

The next Vision for Westbury committee meeting is on Thursday 13th March between 3 and 5pm at the Laverton in Westbury.

Picture: Councillor Gordon King has encouraged people to spend locally to boost the high street