SAVE OUR SHOPS!
A CRISIS facing businesses in Hucknall town centre has deepened even further with gloomy news about two more firms.
Motor World in Baker Street has surprisingly been closed and an announcement has been made that Corman's factory shop on Bolsover Street is shortly to cease trading.
Now business leaders and politicians have united in issuing a plea urging locals to support their local businesses and shops.
In the Dispatch, we reported on calls for urgent action to stop Hucknall and Bulwell becoming 'ghost towns' as the recession bites hard.
Closures of shops, including Martin's the newsagent's, have made the upper part of Hucknall High Street look particularly run-down.
The issue was raised at the annual general meeting of Hucknall Tourism and Regeneration Group on Saturday March 14 when members raised concern about how empty shops would impact on efforts to attract visitors to the town.
Coun John Wilmott, a Hucknall Labour member of Ashfield District Council, said "This is a very trying time. I think there is a need to bring all interested parties round a table to discuss what can be done."
He felt that everything possible needed to be attempted to encourage Hucknall's retail trade, including pressure for a cut in business rates.
As reported in the Dispatch's 'ghost towns' article, one suggestion – by the Local Government Association (LGA) – is for councils to be given the power to take over management of shops that have been unoccupied for three months or more.
The LGA also want to see a VAT reduction for the upgrading of vacant shops to encourage new businesses into them or for such premises to be put to community use.
Meanwhile Hucknall's Labour MP, Paddy Tipping, said the effects of the economic downturn created an urgent need for the town's inner bypass so that a management plan for the town centre could take effect.
The chairman of the Hucknall Business Voice organisation, Martin Leech, claimed Hucknall, as a relatively small town, was feeling the effects of the recession more than Nottingham and Mansfield.
He thought sound businesses would ride the storm better than those which were built on the back of the spending boom.
Mr Leech said a disadvantage for many shops was that their rateable value was too high and they did not benefit from 50% small-business rate-relief.
"The bottom line is that this country had a ten-year spending spree and now the bill has arrived," he added. "I think it will take three or four years to come out of the recession."
The chairman of the now-defunct Hucknall Chamber of Trade and Commerce, Alan Bowbanks, said it was very sad to see more and more shops shutting and he hoped they would open again sooner rather than later.
"However I do not think Hucknall is faring any worse from the recession than other satellite towns," he claimed.
"Fortunately, some businesses have the flesh on their bones which they need to survive but I don't think many can be making a good living at present."
On a more positive note, Mr Bowbanks said the house-sales market had improved slightly in the last few weeks.
"Local estate agents tell me they have had increasing viewings and offers," he claimed.
“I think it will take three or four years to come out of the recession.”
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The chairman of the now-defunct Hucknall Chamber of Trade and Commerce, Alan Bowbanks, said it was very sad to see more and more shops shutting and he hoped they would open again sooner rather than later.
“However I do not think Hucknall is faring any worse from the recession than other satellite towns,” he claimed.
“Fortunately, some businesses have the flesh on their bones which they need to survive but I don’t think many can be making a good living at present.”
On a more positive note, Mr Bowbanks said the house-sales market had improved slightly in the last few weeks.
“Local estate agents tell me that have had increasing viewings and offers,” he claimed.
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Weather for Hucknall
Sunday 05 February 2012
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Temperature: 2 C to 6 C
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