News Day story

Hednesford Traders Association Chairman David Wisehall admits confidence amongst his members is ‘very low.’

Mr Wisehall believes recent adverse weather has had a negative effect upon trade.

This is despite the opening of the brand new £50 million pound Tesco store.

He said: “One business has closed down since Christmas and one is on the verge of shutting it’s doors.

“Confidence amongst my members is very low at the moment.

“As I am sure it is in most high street stores up and down the country.

“There is no sign of an upturn in fortunes, so it’s just a case of toughing it out and hoping to survive.

“An indication of this is that the new Tesco store does not seem to be very busy.”

A new £5 million pound out of town shopping park is expected to be opened by 2014.

Trebor Developments and Harton Estate says the park will be expected to create up to 60 jobs.

The park will be built beside the M6 toll near to the Orbital retail park.

Mr Wisehall has confessed that this new development could have an ‘negative effect’ upon trade in Hednesford.

However, he believes that the British high street still has a future.

He said: “Out of town shopping does impact upon the high streets.

“I believe that high streets still have a future, but they need to adapt drastically to attract customers.

“I am currently exploring ways to achieve this in Hednesford, which is in an enviable position that out of town shopping is in our town.

“Surely it is not beyond me and my members to exploit this fact.”

Business rates across Cannock Chase has risen by 12.6% in just eleven years.

Cannock Chase District Council’s business rates scheme offers traders free rates for a year or a £10,000 contribution to costs.

Mr Wisehall criticized the scheme saying it has hardly helped his members.

He said: “The Cannock Chase District Council business rates scheme has had a negligible affect on most new and existing businesses in Hednesford.

“Most businesses in the town qualify for the Government’s small business rate relief scheme, which has been extended until April 2014, so they do not pay any business rates at all.

“The Council’s scheme would benefit new businesses, which have a rateable of over £6,000 per year.”

The Hednesford Traders Association expects no businesses in town to expand this year.

Mr Wisehall said: “None of the independent businesses in the town are doing well enough to contemplate an expansion on that scale.”

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