Call for more 'real shops' in town as hundreds express interest in opening up
More than 300 potential businesses have made enquiries about setting up in a major market town so far this year, councillors have heard, with one member arguing for “real shops” to make a comeback.
Wellington Town Council Policy and Resources Committee chairman Stephen DeLauney told colleagues it was good to see interest from would-be commercial tenants, even if the majority do not move on to setting up.
Former mayor Phil Morris-Jones MBE said the town already “must have more varied eating places than anywhere in the country”, and had “plenty” of nail salons and hairdressers, but said the council should help “tailors, bakers, greengrocers” and similar trades.
Cllr DeLauney said the town council could encourage “the right sort of trades” by giving incentives such as rent holidays in units it owns.
He said Telford and Wrekin Council representatives recently reported to the Regeneration Board that they had received “well over 300” expressions of interest since the start of 2021.
“The number of those that will actually move to become anything other than a first question will probably be quite small but, nonetheless, it’s good to see there is interest,” Cllr DeLauney added.
Cllr Morris-Jones said he received “constant requests and complaints” saying Wellington “could really do with some real shops”.
He acknowledged that those businesses sometimes struggled to make a profit, but added: “I think they’re coming back. I think it ought to be publicised that we are prepared to help these small retailers off the ground.
“I’m talking about the tailor, the baker, the greengrocer, you know the shops I mean. Because that’s what Wellington is lacking.
“We’ve got plenty of eating places. We must have more varied eating places now than anywhere in the country. Several new ones started up in the last few days, as you probably know.”
Cllr DeLauney said: “The Regeneration Board does understand that.
“If we can eventually buy our own premises then arrange to let the retail part of those at a rent that will encourage the right sort of trades that we’re looking for, that will be the big advantage the town council will be able to use as a draw.
“We’re moving along on that front.”
Cllr Joan Gorse said Telford and Wrekin Council officers were “very committed” to “finding and encouraging new shops in Wellington”, and tried to encourage them in using grant funding.
Cllr DeLauney added that the town council had the extra ability to give incentives on top of that “such as free rent, for a period of time, for trades we want to get in”.
He added: “High streets are changing, as we’re constantly being told. I just keep my fingers crossed that, despite having people moving out of the town, we’ve still got people wanting to move in to the town, and if we can add to that mix by getting some of the traditional service stores that we want, we’ll be moving into the future Wellington we want.”
