Struggling businesses could receive a financial shot in the arm, after South Shropshire District Council revealed it has £400,000 in reserves available to help traders.
District Councillor Martin Taylor-Smith said: “We have about a half a million in reserves, £55,000 has been earmarked for new toilets in Somerfield but we have £400,000 available for other projects and that includes local businesses.
“We have agreed, as an administration, that we want to help local businesses. Given the current economic situation, we have to help as much as we can.”
The news will be welcomed by businesses in Ludlow’s Corve Street, where some traders say they are losing up to 60 per cent of their custom.
Businesses claim the continued closure of lower Corve Street while the Burway Bridge is replaced is stifling trade.
Some 50 shopkeepers and business owners turned up at a meeting with Ludlow MP Philip Dunne on Friday.
Traders have suggested measures to boost trade during these difficult times including a “Friendly Friday” with relaxed parking restrictions, the promotion of Ludlow on local radio stations and the inclusion of discount shopping vouchers in the price of using the town’s Park and Ride service.
They rejected arguments the national economic climate was solely responsible.
Sue Humphreys, of Zani Lady Interiors, said: “We are not twenty per cent down, we are sixty per cent down.”
Phil Crossland, assistant director of highways at Shropshire County Council told the meeting lower Corve Street could not be re-opened while the bridge was replaced because the volume of traffic that would then use it would be a health and safety risk.
Glenn Ginger, of G&D Antiques, said: “I’ve been on Corve Street since 1986 and run a business there for 20 years. No one wants to put children at risk, but would you shut Bromfield Road?
“The thing is, whatever we do, if we don’t get people into town to start with, then the town will close.”
Stuart Grieveson, of Ludlow Motors, said: “I’ve been in town for nearly 25 years and for the first six months I’m forecasting a loss, I’ve never had that and most of the loss occurred in the last two months. I made people redundant last week and I will be making people redundant next week.”
Phil Crossland has since confirmed work on the bridge is progressing well and it will hopefully be open for one-way traffic in time for the Ludlow Food & Drink Festival in September, with full two-way traffic expected by October.
Under pressure from traders, it was decided the county council’s Highways Department would look again at opening lower Corve Street to local southbound traffic.
The county council is to consider increasing the parking period in Corve Street to three hours and Cllr Taylor-Smith is to investigate use of the district council’s car park at weekends during the summer. Representations will also be made to ParkRight to relax restrictions so traders can load and unload outside their shops.
