Nailsea traders hold credit crunch talks

Nailsea traders are fighting back against the effect of the credit crunch by holding crisis talks.

Nailsea Chamber of Trade and Commerce chairman Gilly Chu is to hold talks with Nailsea Town Council and bosses at the town centre management company to draw up an action plan to try and keep business in the town as afloat in the deepening recession.

The meeting follows mounting concerns about the number of empty shops in Nailsea, where Woolworths is due to close for good today

The Nailsea store, which only opened in October 2007, is one of the last of the national chain to shut up shop.

The Rosebury's store in Somerset Square also closed this year and the former Rontos fashion store and the North Somerset Housing office in Colliers Walk are also vacant.

Mrs Chu said: "The fact that Woolworths is closing is going to have a real impact on Nailsea High Street.

"Woolworths was a major player in the success of the High Street and we now need to look at ways of keeping the town centre alive.

"There are already a number of empty shop units in Nailsea and we do not want to see any more close. Because of the recession, times are only going to get harder and we have to promote the good points of Nailsea such as the free parking and the fact we have a good selection of shops.

"I hope that by having a meeting with the town council and the owners of the town centre, we can sit down and thrash out ways to ensure Nailsea weathers the storm."

Nailsea Chamber of Trade and Commerce is planning to put together a questionnaire and deliver it to all shops in the town asking what they feel can be done to boost trade.

It is also planning to set up a website in an attempt to attract people to use the town's stores for online shopping.

Each member will have their business featured on the site and have a section for online orders.

Other suggestions include setting up a bulk-buy deal between traders for items such as recycling bags and local advertising.

It is also likely the results of the questionnaire will be used to lobby landlords in the town to reduce their rents to lure in new businesses.

Chamber members will also be canvassed on their views on cost of business rates, with the results being handed to Woodspring MP Liam Fox, who they hope will call for a reduction in the cost of business rates in Parliament.

Work on the questionnaire will start soon and it is hoped the Nailsea website will be up and running later this month.