Strangling lifeout of our shops

An enlarged Arndale Centre will only harm those small traders trying to eke out a living in Terminus Road, as shoppers will spend all their time in the centre and are unlikely to venture out except to make their way home with their purchases.

I am reliably informed that high rents and business rates make considerable inroads to their income, especially when in these difficult economic conditions would-be customers are watching their pennies and supporting those establishments providing value for money.

If we are to encourage independent shops in our town centre then the council needs to offer incentives to them to trade and provide employment to mainly women who are paid less than men.

It is the local councils strangling poor high street shops with their greed for money.

It is sackcloth and ashes for the council revenue when the shops close up unable to make a living from trading there with a loss of revenue from closed shops.

PETER BARKER

Windermere Crescent