ON behalf of the Chamber of Trade and Commerce, I would like to extend our thanks to the people of Market Harborough for supporting local businesses, especially after having such a difficult week.
Many businesses have seen a reduction in trade this
week due to the bomb threat, and then adverse weather. We feel it is important to let the general public know how we do appreciate their support when they buy locally as this really does help with local economy.
Small businesses and independents do not have the safety net of being part of a larger corporation that can subsidise them through difficult periods, and they feel the impact of slow down in trade almost immediately and the continued loyalty of customers is a valued thing.
On this note I would like to comment on the invasion of the 'coffee houses and sandwich bars' that is taking place in our town.
Market Harborough already has a wonderful variety of independently owned food outlets to provide local people with refreshments.
There is Webb's and Joules at the north end of town, Aldins Tea Rooms, Aldwinkles and Snacktime in the centre, Loaf, KJ's Cafe and Emerson and Wests towards the south end, and Wesses Bakery and Blend in Coventry Road and Manor Walk.
Never before has the power of the pound and where you spend it been so important. I urge local consumers please support these local businesses, if you don't use them we will lose them and then this will make way for more of the larger corporate businesses, and eventually Market Harborough will end up looking like every other town.
I appreciate that we need some of the 'big' names to draw people to shop here, but let us not forget that one of Harborough's biggest attractions is the range of smaller, independently owned shops that provide that 'something different' in a relaxed atmosphere.
If we want larger chain stores we can easily access them in Leicester, Kettering, Corby and Northampton. People visit Market Harborough because it is individual and different, once we are the same as every other town why would they want to come?
And when shoppers stop coming we will start to see a lot of small businesses close down. As a lot of these premises are too small for larger chain stores to be interested in, the outcome could be a town full of empty boarded-up shops.
So once again, I thank you on behalf of the owners of the smaller shops for your continued support and loyalty, and long may it carry on.
Sharon Shannon, Chamber of Trade and Commerce.
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Town's unique character at risk
AS I walk around the town, there is always one subject that is most talked about. Recently it has been the number of new take-away shops and cafes opening in Harborough.
The questions are: Do we need this amount? and what will it do to the trade of our old businesses?
I was interested to see on Leicester news an MP for Leicester is trying to limit the amount of take-aways in the Evington Road area of Leicester.
This is because he has had hundreds of complaints about litter, noise and cars in these areas.
Do we need this in Harborough? I, for one, don't think so.
I think Harborough council should think long and hard before giving permission for any more. Trouble is most councillors live outside Harborough and don't have the noise and litter to contend with.
Harborough used to be known for little, different shops, that people came to the town to shop at. We will soon have the same shops as everywhere else, to Harborough's loss. It's a shame that the council can't see to the future of Harborough as a town with character, not as everywhere else.
Jenny Garland,
Rutland Walk, Harborough.
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Common sense shuts up shop
JUST a few weeks have passed since the failed terrorist attacks in London and Glasgow yet the seriousness of the current 'severe' terror alert status seems to have escaped the attention of Market Harborough's bar managers who, judging by the quotes in last week's Mail, were more concerned with loss of profits than potential loss of life.
Evacuate? "But there were people there who had just bought a round in" proclaimed one. I dread to think what would have happened had a suspicious package been discovered in his pub on a Friday night. 'Shall I call the bomb squad boss?', 'No, put it in the cellar and while you're down there change the barrel!'.
Andrew Mount,
Nelson Street,
Harborough.
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Role has active part to play
I READ with interest D Jeffery's letter in the Harborough Mail (July 5, 07) asking what a physical activity co-ordinator did. So I asked the question to the person who holds that position locally.
This was their reply "We co-ordinate a scheme that helps rehabilitate people through exercise, who have suffered from various illnesses.
"We often work with MIND and Age Concern charities providing activities for their service users.
"We provide a chair based exercise and motivation scheme for those who thought they were unable to participate in any form of physical activity.
We are looking to bring more activities to rural communities, such as walking, cycling and dancing.
We can provide health checks and information in the workplace. We see a healthy lifestyle whether it is through sport or activities as a cost and a cause worth 'walking for'.
In the long term all active lifestyle leads to a healthier life, and prevention is better than a cure.
You can find more information at www.harboroughsport.co.uk
I'll just get my walking boots and running shoes....
Phil Jarvis, chairman, Harborough District Sport and Activity Alliance.
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Taxpayers should fund life-savers
(Copy of letter sent to Prime Minister Gordon Brown)
WATCHING the terrible damage caused by the recent flooding in and around the country, it struck me as somewhat ironic that two of the 'emergency' services that the nation was relying on, are funded by charitable donations!
Surely the time has now come for the Government to realise the important part that both the Royal National Lifeboats Institution and the County Air Ambulances have played during this time and set them up on a properly Government Funded footing.
Whilst charitable donations are to be commended, when saving life is at the heart of the service, it should be possible to set up some sort of annual revenue out of taxes to pay towards these two services.
We pay taxes towards road ambulances, so why not a sea ambulance or an air ambulance.
Come on Mr Brown, let's see the colour of your money!
Mrs PS March, Gumley.
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Wildlife hit by tree destruction
HAVING read the report in today's Harborough Mail (July 19) about the fiasco with David Wilson Developments at Kibworth I felt I must comment on their pathetic attempts at 'ecological interest'. How could the so-called, no doubt highly-paid, ecological experts actually say it was OK at this time of the year to chop down trees and hedges, or to even chop them down at all?
If readers remember in May of last year I crawled through a hedge to rescue a nest of wrens that were in imminent danger of destruction by Alpha Homes who were building in Kibworth. This had a happy ending because the builders were forced by law to stop work on the hedge. If it hadn't been for my intervention the hedge would have been cut back and the nest destroyed.
In my experience builders do not care about the destruction they cause, they damage trees 'accidentally', they renege on promises to preserve trees and at the end of the day are only interested in getting the job done and making money and to hell with the consequences to wildlife. I believe that David Wilson Developments are no exception and would have carried on destroying trees and wildlife habitats anyway. No builder should be destroying trees at this time of the year, it's common sense, there are bound to be birds and wildlife affected.
I am incensed at the number of habitats and trees that are being destroyed in my area alone. Who cares? Certainly not building developers, not planning authorities who give consent, and certainly not the Government who overrule objections to developments. Birds, and foxes and badgers and trees cannot speak for themselves so I must, and always will. I have admiration for Mr Gardiner and feel so sorry for his predicament, to be at the edge of this dreadful destruction must be heartbreaking.
Jean Bird (Mrs)
Harborough Animal Concern
Cedar Close, Kibworth.
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