Letter: Church Stretton's doing all right, thanks very much

Letter: I wonder if our mayor was misrepresented when he said (Shropshire Star May 11) that he wanted "to promote the economic regeneration" of Church Stretton, conjuring up the spectre of a down-at-heel and depressed little town?

As a resident and member of the town's chamber of trade, I take satisfaction and pride in noting that our town has fewer empty shops than anywhere else I can think of.

Local traders are undoubtedly feeling the effects of the recession and are working ever harder to mitigate them, but many believe that they are fighting with one hand tied behind their back.

As well as a dismissive town council, epitomised by the statement above, we face a misguided civic society which, in describing us as a "minority sect", shows an alarming lack of understanding of the dynamics of a market town.

John Gott

Church Stretton