Burgh businesses owners told: 'Step up to the mark'

Fiona Howard 1564 - 1564 • Published 4 Apr 2009 09:30

HELENSBURGH retailers have to take a 'more pro-active role' and 'step up to the mark' when it comes to promoting themselves and the town.

That"s the message from Helensburgh Community Council.

At their meeting last week they heard that, in the past, town retailers were offered a 60 per cent grant towards the cost of materials for refurbishing shop fronts but less than 20 per cent took up the offer.

And while the Chamber of Commerce, the council, the community council and Helensburgh Partnership can all do their bit to promote the town and its businesses, shopkeepers themselves are responsible for their premises and opening hours.

Community Council chairman Nigel Miller told the council on Thursday: 'I was talking to one shop keeper who stopped the conversation and told me he would be shutting in five minutes - and that was at 4.55pm.'

He continued: 'The retail association and the chamber of commerce have become a collective which will give a lot more weight to the local business community. Argyll and Bute Council have a responsibility for roads and pavements, keeping the place clean and making the town attractive, and the community council has gone down the shop local road.'

Mr Miller pointed out that Helensburgh Partnership is coming to the end of its lifespan and there is a debate ongoing as to what will replace it.

He praised the chamber of commerce and in particular its chief executive Susan Mathieson for all the work it is doing towards finding ways to overcome the problem of empty shops.

But he added: 'We would like to see some of our business community looking for ways to help themselves. I would like to see the business community taking a more pro-active role.'

The community councillors heard that Glasgow Art School is looking to involve students in a two month project to enhance the town centre if they can get premises, and he asked: 'Is anyone talking to the railway companies or coach firms to persuade them to stop here?'

Councillor Vivien Dance said: 'I am very, very concerned about what is happening but we do not appeal to the coach drivers because we do not provide incentives for them to bring people here.

'Some tourist sites attract coaches in droves because the drivers get free meals and vouchers to spend, but no-one is going to do that here.

'We can"t even get some shop keepers to provide discounts or even open for events like the Christmas lights switch-on.

'They have to be responsible for their own promotion. It would cost about £10 for a hanging basket ready made up and all they would have to do is water it. But very few bother. How many shops have had a coat of paint in years?

'Independent retailers should step up to the mark as well. There is no point waiting for someone with a magic wand to produce planters or a coat of paint, they have got to bite the bullet and get on with it.

'A few years ago they were offered a 60 per cent grant towards painting their shop fronts but less than 20 per cent took the offer up. At the time the supermarket project was being considered there was insufficient parking in Helensburgh, we were 25 per cent short but now we have over provision. That shows the real drop in retail in Helensburgh.'

Tweet

This article appeared in Barrhead News 02 Apr 09

Follow @barrheadnews

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.