City is missing part of retail offer – but help is needed...

Many shops in Chichester have been forced to close due to a variety of reasons. There is much discussion about encouraging people to visit.

If we have only chain stores, why should they come to Chichester rather than any other town or city which already has these?

We have many interesting features in Chichester – cathedral, theatre, Roman palace, etc. – which are of interest but tourists also enjoy wandering through the streets of an ancient city, especially if care has been taken, as in Chichester, to preserve its character.

What is missing are shops retailing local goods, crafts and those catering for specialist interests. We have many small premises which, if offered at a realistic rent, would be ideal for start-up small businesses. These would give entrepreneurs help in creating a business during the initial stages before getting established.

In other areas local councils and the Government has encouraged this by reducing costs such as council tax for a limited period. Surely an open shop is more interesting than a closed one!

We are in the middle of an agricultural area but it is not possible to buy a lettuce without going into a supermarket. We have local wines and meat which could better be promoted here.

In some towns, for example Tavistock and St David’s, large ground-floor areas such as the vacant Debenham’s are used as an indoor market enabling groups such as the W.I. to sell their produce.

These also encourage interaction between local people and help to restore a friendly, welcoming atmosphere. The siting of this empty store, the first view of Chichester for a visitor, gives the impression of a city in the middle of a mighty depression.

Starting an independent business is very hard work, one needs determination and optimism, an enthusiastic interest and knowledge of the goods, an ability to deal with all people and to give individual service. At the start, expenses are greater than revenue, so any reduction in outgoings is very helpful. I know, I have done it, after 21 years when I retired, I sold the business and it is still trading.