Time to support our High Street

Your High Street: Use It Or Lose It aims to raise awareness of the independent high street businesses who are suffering from falling customer numbers – High Street, Holton Road, Park Crescent, and Vere Street.

In August, the National Assembly of Wales released figures that highlighted

The community-minded High Street traders have historically felt Holton Road, with its dominant national retailer businesses, superior parking opportunities, and investment in its street scenery and events programme, have made it the favoured area for retail.

Holton Road has also reported concerns over parking – saying there is not enough – and there was uproar when the Vale Council proposed charges.

High Street traders have aired concerns about a lack of High Street parking, inadequate street signage, uneven surfaces, and poor lighting in winter months.

But they have always endeavoured to boost their own fortunes and actively involve the community by organising artisan food and craft markets, Easter parades, and the annual Christmas light switch-on.

Their efforts have involved applying for any available funds through to selling raffle tickets giving stock as prizes.

The weather, out of town retail parks, and attractions available at Barry Island have also made a significant impact and they believe High Street should be promoted as a unique tourist destination itself.

Homemade Wales owner Faye Blakeley, who has been trading on the adjacent Island Road, for two years, said: “Footfall does seem to be relatively low for such as large town. The customers that patronise the independent shops are very loyal and supportive and are as likely to buy their meat and veg from the High Street as they are to treat themselves to a new dress or to buy a gift for somebody. We just need more of these people to find the street, fall in love with the independent businesses and support them.

“A lot of time and money has been spent on the regeneration of Barry Island, with free events running throughout the summer - which as a local, is great. The adverse effect of these events is that trade can be very slow on those days with customers attending the free events in favour of the High Street. Often visitors to the area only go to Barry Island and do not even know that the High Street shopping area exists. There’s more to Barry than Barry Island. Barry is in a unique position to be the largest town in Wales, with a 100 per cent independent local boutique shopping area with vast variety. There’s not one large corporate on the street. In other areas of the country this would be a huge tourism plus - it should be for us too. New and better signage would help - you’d be amazed how many people who live in the town don’t know that the street exists.

“We really are in a 'use it or lose it’ situation. Every time that a customer buys something from a local independent shop, that money is much more likely to stay in the community - even if it’s only through taxes! Independents pay their tax. That’s why campaigns such as ShopLocal and justacard.org and like this one in the Barry & District News are so important for towns. If people don’t use their local high street, it won’t be there in five or 10 years time - it’s as simple as that.”

Leanne Wood, whose children’s ware shop Spoilt For Choice, opened last November, said she had been unable to establish a trading pattern.

Mrs Wood said: “There’s no rhyme or reason.

“The weather has an impact and parking. People like it for the convenience. We have loyal customers, but we want more customers. We provide service with a smile. Traders are helping themselves as best we can.

“I thought I had it sussed, but when I open up in the morning I keep my fingers crossed.”

Matt Harrison co-owner, with wife Cathy, of She Wears It Well and The Gallery Boutique, on High Street, said: “We are doing all we can, but policing could be improved. It could be a fantastic place. It could be a tourist hot-spot.”

Julie Thorne, of TL Computer Systems (Wales) Ltd, on Holton Road, said she couldn’t explain the decrease in footfall.

“It’s quite seasonal,” she said. “Parking has been an issue and we were one of the businesses that campaigned to stop the charges – a plan which was successfully overturned. The big boys like Morrisons, Tesco and Asda have got massive car parks. We can’t compete.”

Buttrills ward councillor Ian Johnson said Holton Road was still Barry's main shopping area and busiest on a Tuesday market day.

He said: “You can always see friendly local faces on the street, doing their shopping. There are things you can do on Holton Road that you can't do online. The internet can't cut your hair or do your nails!

“The overall economic picture is mixed because of Brexit, online shopping or other shopping developments in Barry like at the Waterfront, but Holton Road has great potential because of the amount of retail space available and the large number of local shoppers in Barry, with more than 50,000 people in the town and also council workers and others spending their lunchtimes in Holton Road.

"We should aim to get every shop space on Holton Road filled with retail so that people can see Holton Road is thriving.

"We should make a list of the types of small business not found on the street and target those as new businesses, and speak with landlords to allow access to new pop-up shops so that people who might want to open a business can give it a try and see if it's for them.

"Better use of King Square for markets and events that attract people to Holton Road means more footfall and more shoppers spending money."

Vale MP Alun Cairns said small business owners had reported trade as unusually slow over the summer and there didn’t seem to have been an uptick in the week following the end of the summer break and that parking was a “perennial problem.

He said: “Perhaps the most consistent issue facing traders in Barry and across Wales is business rates. I am glad that after years of pressure, the Welsh Government is easing the tax burden on small business. For too long the full economic potential of small business in Wales was squandered by rates more onerous than over the border than England.

“Small businesses across Wales stand to benefit, and I am particularly hopeful that the effect will be keenly felt on high street shops.

“High Street in Barry is surely one of the best high streets in the country, boasting a line-up of quality independent shops and cafes. We want its success to continue long into the future.

“I urge all readers of the Barry and District to take advantage of this fantastic local gem, and to support local independent shops across the town whenever possible.”

Vale AM Jane Hutt said the Welsh Government's recent announcement on rate relief for small businesses was vitally important.

Under the Welsh Government’s small business rates relief scheme - coming permanently into force from 2018 meant business premises with a rateable value of up to £6,000 would receive 100 per cent relief.

Those with a rateable value between £6,001 and £12,000 will receive relief on a tapered basis from 100 per cent to zero.

Ms Hutt said: “As a champion of my local high streets, living and shopping in Barry, I know how important it is to back our local traders who I cherish.

This means working with the traders to support events like the Christmas lights, parking, waste collection and liaising with the Vale Council to address these issues positively and constructively.

“3,544 business properties in the Vale of Glamorgan are liable to pay non domestic rates and many will benefit from this announcement.”

Councillor Nic Hodges, whose Baruc ward encompasses High Street, said he and his fellow Baruc councillors had been “quite excited by the enthusiasm of local traders” at a Barry Town Council ShopLocal meeting.

He said: “The shops seem quite buoyant but a shop local scheme together with focused events will help bring a poitive future to this excellent shopping area.”

Vale council cabinet member for regeneration and education, Cllr Lis Burnett said the authority had recently held two well-attended meetings with Barry’s High Street traders to discuss a programme of Christmas events.

She said: “The Council has listened to the retailers’ suggestions and agreed, in partnership with them, to fund two events with the aim of increasing footfall to the town during the festive period.

“The first of these will mark the switching on of the Christmas lights on Friday, November 24, while there will also be an artisan and craft market on Saturday December 10.

“The council has offered great deal of advice and guidance on coordinating the events and is now working with the traders to help identify potential sponsors.”

Barry Town Council acting town clerk, Angie Norman said a ShopLocal campaign meeting would take place at the council’s Gladstone Road offices at 6pm on Monday, October 3.

Every week, our campaign Your High Street: Use It Or Lose It will highlight what the independent shops have to offer and what is being done to halt the decline.

Do you have something you want to shout about? We want independent businesses across Barry to get in touch and tell us your story. Call Sharon Harris on 07760 190797 and sha@barryanddistrictnews.co.uk