Letter: Use shops or lose them

Letter: In response to the comments of Wem councillor Peggy Carson, as reported in the Shropshire Star, about the lack of suitable shops in Wem I would say: "Sorry, Peggy, we cannot put the clocks back!"

Sixty four years ago when I first came to live in the Wem area, the mainly family-run shops in Wem covered every conceivable requirement of both the townsfolk and those living in the surrounding area. The railway provided the only means of regular daily travel further afield and hardly anybody had a car.

Gradually higher rents and rates – together with the lack of support from customers – appears to have caused business after business to close down.

The greatly increased population of Wem is more mobile and would seem to spend its money out of the town, except when it comes to "takeaways".

Sixty four years ago, we only had Obertelli's fish and chip shop in New Street and Ellis's cafe on the High Street.

As far as the remaining shops and businesses are concerned: "If you do not use them, you will lose them!"

Keith Iddles

Wem