Small shops can thrive

CAN I reply to the letter from Trish Clarke of TC Cakes Goodie Box?

I can assure her that I do shop in Hinckley’s Castle Street at least once a week and have done so for more than 30 years, and was a regular shopper at the Co-op there as well as car park user.

I do not turn my nose up at Upper Castle Street, rather my suggestion for increasing the population of that part of town is to make Castle Street including Upper Castle Street sustainable for businesses by ensuring a ready convenience shopping footfall!

As I said, it should be part of a strategy to rejuvenate high streets. My comments about how the bulk of retailing has moved to the bottom of town with the recent developments is a comment on reality.

The aim of all the major superstore groups is to provide sufficient range that people will do one-stop shopping...indeed to take people away from smaller shops and also, I would add, to take away from door step milk delivery.

I recall one superstore group actually deliberately aimed at taking away from and eradicating milk door step delivery.

After nearly 40 years working within and alongside the retail trade, as a senior finance manager, I am aware of the pressures of large scale competition as well as internet shopping on smaller businesses.

However the smaller businesses can thrive by being different and personalised, such as are TC Cakes Goodie Box and the others that I know of in Castle Street...but they need a regular localised footfall.

It would also be helpful if Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council did away with car parking charges in that area, that would help these smaller businesses. One can park at Sainsbury for up to three hours for free and that is an unfair advantage to the bottom of town.

Wishing all the shops in Castle Street, Lower and Upper, all the best for the New Year, I look forward to my continuing shopping in Hinckley. Eddie Bestwick JP FCA

MCIM