Shoppers urged to stay local

Residents of Southwell have been urged to support traders in the town by shopping at local stores. Southwell Town Forum has discussed the problems facing traders in the town.

At a meeting of the forum Mr Mario Stankovic, of Lower Kirklington Road, Southwell, said: “How about Southwell people supporting the traders?”

He said residents should shop locally instead of going to Nottingham or Mansfield.

“There are clothes shops in Southwell as cheap as in Mansfield,” said Mr Stankovic.

“People think that because they are going to a shopping centre they are getting it cheaper but they’re not.”

Mr Stankovic, who owns a home maintenance business, said Southwell’s monthly farmers’ markets were also suffering because of a lack of interest from residents.

“Anybody can stand there selling goods but they need somebody to buy them,” he said.

The chairman of the forum, Mr Peter Harris, said it was good that key traders such as the Co-op remained committed to the town.

He said it was encouraging to see the involvement of traders in town activities such as the Bramley Festival in October when shop windows were dressed on an apple theme.

The chairman of the town council, Mrs Beryl Prentice, said the traders were always supportive when town events were organised.

“We need their support for the fun day and Christmas events,” she said. “All the traders are so generous in their help.”