Mixed festive picture for Bridgnorth businesses

Stephen Robbins said a difficult festive period has followed a year of uncertainty over Brexit.

He said: "As with the general trend it has been difficult over the festive season this year.

"The weather is not helping. Last weekend the weather wasn't good. A town like Bridgnorth suffers when the weather is bad.

"Traders are doing their best, working together - that's good for the town, good for business.

He added: "It's been a tough year all around, and a tough year for traders in Bridgnorth. Everybody is concerned over Brexit.

"The uncertainty is the main problem for people. The sooner it's sorted out the better.

"As far as individual traders are concerned, it doesn't make that much of a difference. I feel the future is looking bright for the town.

"I think generally it's upbeat, and the fact that shop keepers are interested in working together and promoting the town is good.

"The Chamber of Commerce had a lottery grant for the Park and Ride and we are looking to use some of that for advertising it. That will hopefully bring more people into the town."

Meanwhile, Bridgnorth's mayor has urged people to support the town's high street, and buy local in the last days before Christmas.

Councillor Ron Whittle said: "Bridgnorth is very lucky in a sense because there are so many small towns where the high street to all intents and purposes has disappeared.

"Bridgnorth isn't like that, we have still got basically all of the shop units taken and when they do empty they fill up quite quickly.

Support

"We've got to make sure it keeps happening.

"If high streets disappear they won't come back and I think if people like the high street they have got to support it.

"We always try to buy local, we use the shops of the high street when we can and we encourage others to as well.

"Anecdotally, we've spoken to a couple shops in the last couple of days and they have seemed quite buoyant.

"I'm hoping that is generally the picture in the town."

Paddy Ryan is a second generation butcher whose father came to Shropshire from the Republic of Ireland, and now runs the popular A Ryan & Son shop in Much Wenlock.

He predicted his family's busiest day will be this Sunday, the last before Christmas. He said: "We have done well so far, the crunch time is now.

"It all happens in the last three or four days in the meat trade.

"Christmas Eve tends to be a rather nice day, people have made it to Christmas and picked up their meat so it is all done."

He said turkeys and beef have sold well, although geese and game have not been as popular in past years.

Paddy predicted his trade this year would live up to past precedent, which has seen customers queuing outside the shop in Christmases gone by.

"It's a privilege to see customers we have seen all year come into the shop, everyone is happy this time of year," he added.