Councils and businesses pledge to help boost Shrewsbury
Council leaders and local businesses have agreed to work together to help promote Shrewsbury and encourage people to visit the town.
On Monday 4 July 2011, Keith Barrow, Leader of Shropshire Council and Peter Nutting, Leader of Shrewsbury Town Council met with representatives from town centre traders, and a set of measures were agreed.
Councillor Barrow said:
“This was a really positive meeting and there was unanimous agreement that it is only by joint working that the undoubted strengths of the town can be really promoted. We agreed that we all need to work together to help ‘talk up’ and generate positive stories about the town and what it has to offer to visitors, in order to encourage people to visit and shop in Shrewsbury.
“I agreed to improve the operation of the Raven Meadows multi-storey car park, and to examine Sunday car parking charges in the town, and maximise the promotional possibilities of offering free parking for special events.
“And to help improve things for traders in the town I also agreed to ensure even higher levels of customer service by our parking enforcement team. Our town is famous as a friendly town and I want to make sure they are ambassadors for Shrewsbury.”
Business leaders at the meeting said they will look at offering parking refunds if customers make purchases in their stores. They will also be examining again how more shops can open longer in the town centre, especially on Sundays.
Edward Goddard from Morris Leisure, who is also chair of Destination Shrewsbury, said:
“The commitment by businesses, Shropshire Council and Shrewsbury Town Council to pledge resources to put the marketing of the town on a whole new level is fantastic. The message is clearly that Shrewsbury is open for business.”
Councillor Nutting said:
“Shrewsbury Town Council is working hard with Shropshire Council and business leaders in the town to really promote the town throughout the area. The town is looking really good at the moment, with lots of flowers and hanging baskets coming into full bloom. Everyone is made welcome in Shrewsbury and it really is a good time to visit and spend time enjoying the atmosphere of the old buildings, the specialist shops and our wonderful Quarry park.”
At the meeting businesses and the two councils sought to understand how Shrewsbury was faring during the recession, and heard some good news.
Footfall data provided by Destination Shrewsbury showed an increase on last year for the number of people visiting Shrewsbury’s shopping centres.
And data provided by Shropshire Council showed that the number of vehicles parking on-street is up four per cent so far this year, compared to the same period last year. The number of vehicles parking in town centre car parks on Sundays is also higher than last year.
Those at the meeting were:
• Councillor Keith Barrow, Leader – Shropshire Council
• Councillor Peter Nutting, Leader – Shrewsbury Town Council
• Tom McCabe, Corporate Director: Places – Shropshire Council
• Mark Pembleton, Service manager – business and enterprise, Shropshire Council
• Ann DiTella (Mytton and Mermaid hotel / Mad Jack’s)
• Mike Matthews (Prince Rupert Hotel)
• Edward Goddard (Destination Shrewsbury / Morris Leisure)
• Fay Easton (Shropshire Enterprise Partnership)
• John Hall (Shop in the Loop).
• Ashley Davies (Ashley’s Bar)
