It’s time to do something now
I OWN commercial property in both Royston and Saffron Walden – and the contrast is marked. The latter is a busy town with many varied shops offering much to the consumer. Why is this? Although it does have a Waitrose in the town centre, it also has an o
I OWN commercial property in both Royston and Saffron Walden - and the contrast is marked.
The latter is a busy town with many varied shops offering much to the consumer. Why is this?
Although it does have a Waitrose in the town centre, it also has an out-of-town Tesco and Homebase.
Surely the catchment areas are similar with the same social profile? Saffron Walden is more difficult to access from the villages than Royston, but does have a large car park close to the market place.
You may also want to watch:
Then, Royston has three main car parks a minute or two away from the centre. So why does one have more and more empty shops unable to find tenants than the other?
After all, Royston has had more people move in recently with far more new houses being built in the town, than in its neighbours.
Most Read
- 1 Magic show set to go Wrong on stage at Cambridge Arts Theatre
- 2 New boxing and Muay Thai classes aim to help boost post-lockdown mood
- 3 Royston chairman: RNLI volunteers never question or criticise - they save lives
- 4 New president takes over at Rotary Club
- 5 Herts Council has 'pattern of mishandling children's services complaints'
- 6 Community rallies together to clean up church after 'mindless' vandalism
- 7 Bassingbourn Barracks: New chapter for Army’s flagship operational training centre
- 8 Church foodbank receives donation to help families in need
- 9 Community comes together for Together We Stand Against Racism event
- 10 New care home for Royston unanimously approved
Do we have enough control over our own future and does North Herts District Council care enough about Royston to really try to reverse this decline?
Is it a coincidence that their offices are many miles to the west in a different area, whereas Uttlesford District Council is based in Saffron Walden?
I do no not know the answer, but our town councillors should.
Get business rates reduced. Get parking charges reduced (free for two days a week?) Get professional outside advice. But do something. Now. Rome is burning while you fiddle.
Royston is dying as a shopping centre and will soon just be a dormitory. Is that what we want?
STUART FINDLAY
