Trade fall-off linked to post office closure

Robert Johnson, chairman of Evesham Chamber of Commerce, expressed concern over the impact of the closure, before Christmas, when the services relocated to the Riverside Shopping Centre.

Town centre trade was also being affected by recent shutdowns of businesses such as residential letting agencies, he added.

"A couple of shops have closed down but I don't think that's unique to Evesham," said Mr Johnson.

"The problem we have got in High Street is it's never been the prime shopping area in Evesham anyway and when people see empty frontages, that's even worse.

"But I do know the retailers at the top end of High Street are suffering from the closure of the post office. It's had an effect on the High Street, without any doubt.

"It's not the only problem but it's certainly the most recent problem.

"The High Street is not the main shopping street and I think if it had been the main shopping street and the post office closed, then the effects might not have been so profound.

"The top end of the High Street is a secondary shopping area and it's relying on the footfall in town."

Mr Johnson believed there would be no quick fix to the problem saying: "There's nothing that I know of, in the short term, that's going to help the situation."

Referring to the former post office, he said: "That's a fair-sized building and, if that was let to a good company then that could see the top end of the High Street revitalised, to a certain extent."

He said the Chamber was doing all it could to help regenerate the town: "We're represented on the town council and the district council and we're making our thoughts known through the relevant authorities.

"As a Chamber, all we can do is lobby, which is exactly what we are doing."

Mr Johnson thought Evesham could learn lessons from towns like Stratford, which had high street names but also had smaller shops to provide shoppers with greater variety.