THE report this week by the New Economics Foundation, which named Malvern has one of the top ten towns in Britain for its local identity, highlights what is often seen as a weakness of the town centre, its lack of 'big name' stores, could, in fact, be one of its great strengths.

The report says Britain is being turned into a nation of 'clone towns', with global brands and chain stores taking overs its high streets.

Great Malvern, by contrast, has retained its individuality, identity and character.

Before we get too excited, this is not a lot of use if people don't want to shop here in large enough numbers.

Most of those towns named among the report's 'top ten clones', places like Cheltenham, Winchester and Newport, would be considered rather desirable places to shop and that has a lot to with the pleasant pedestrianised shopping environment.

Malvern Hills District Council is right to build on the town's individuality in its efforts to regenerate Great Malvern town centre, but it will never get the niche shops we would like to see set up unless it gets to grips with the shopping environment.

Cleaning the streets was a good initiative, albeit something which should happen as a matter of course, but real money needs to be found, not mainly from the Council Tax, but through grants and that takes commitment.

For a start, the council should be able to find money from its own funds for a shop fronts improvement scheme.

It puts aside £20,000 for a community grant scheme, to be given away in £1,000 packets to local groups. All very worthy, but the same amount of money could transform the town centre in 12 months. It's all a question of priorities.