DROITWICH residents concerned about the future of their town have hit out at local business rates.
The landlord of the Star and Garter pub David Webb said empty shops were failing to make the High Street enticing for shoppers and that ‘the council has let the place down.’
“The High Street needs to change,” he said. “It’s a market town without a market. They used to have one and it was pedestrianised and always packed.
“High rents are the reason. Unless you’re a charity shop or a big business, you can’t set up.”
Alan Ward, who has lived in Droitwich for 60 years, agrees: “Instead of charging business owners £200 a week, they’d rather have a shop sitting there empty for five years,” he said.
Mr Webb compared Droitwich to Alcester in Warwickshire: “I went there a couple of months ago to see their high street and compared to this, it’s buzzing.”
He added: “You don’t need to be the brain of Britain to see that it’s easily the worst high street in the West Midlands.”
Despite this, many shoppers hold Droitwich in high regard, describing it as a ‘lovely town’.
Phil Merrick, head of economy and community services at Wychavon District Council, said: “People tell us how much they value Droitwich as a place to live.
“In terms of empty shops we’re doing well with only 15 vacant units out of 172, giving us a vacancy rate lower than the national average. There are gaps though, particularly around leisure and entertainment.”
He added that population growth in Droitwich over the next few years would lead to new opportunities.
He said this would make Droitwich a more attractive place for some of the larger ‘branded’ retailers.
“HotelshopUK has recently received planning permission for a major expansion of its office on the High Street and I am sure the extra staff will provide a major boost for local shops and services.
“We also look forward to working with Worcestershire County Council on its plans to enhance the appearance of the High Street.”
