I walked through Melksham yesterday. I counted 169 'shop front' businesses. 10 vacant, 4 more vacant but showing clear signs of work in progress to the opening of a new venture. And that is a remarkably good figure - it's around 6% (or 8.2% if you include those being prepared), when that national average is over 13% (source). We have four things to thank for that:
  * The part of the country we're in
  * The relative lack of big chains
  * More residents - the growth of our town
  * Excellent local work helping to promote the time.
Most of the premises I counted are in the South Ward - 119 of them, with 36 in The Forest and 14 in The North. From an election viewpoint, that defines who (of those who live on site) are potential voters. From a later viewpoint, a thriving town centre is for everyone in the town and the whole council should (and does) work together and with partners for the good of the town as a whole, and I will be a part of that.

So - what shops do we have? On my count we have 17 hair salons / barbers, 13 takeaways, 7 Cafes, 5 selling antiques and curios, 5 letting properties and estate agents, 5 charity shops and 5 restaurants. There are 4 pubs, 4 nail Salons, and 4 supermarkets. (Full raw data here)

We have seen a move over the years from a dominance of supplier to service outlets. We have two butchers, but the only bakers that remain are within other stores, and there are no dedicated candlestick makers. On the other hand, where once the only place to take a hot meal away was the chippy, there are now over a dozen.

People ask for / hanker for other shops - a greengrocer, a shoe shop, a fishmonger perhaps. Whilst I too would love to see these and others, I fear that people would like to see them in the town, but use them so little that they wouldn't survive, to the pain of the people who set them up. There will be exceptional cases such as those with wider business plans such as having a walk in shop front and a symbiotic delivery / mail order / production business. Counter sales while working in the back is a good model. In my former role as President of the Melksham Chamber of Commerce and Industry I supported such businesses, and continue to do so.

Takeaways, Cafes, Pubs and restaurants bring people into the town - and business and life in too (writing for th long term - we are in odd CoVID times as I write) and people vote with their feet to use them. Competition is healthy; we could do with just a bit more variety at times, and we need to be aware of the effects on neighbours of late night venues, places selling alcohol, and places that bring in a lot of short-stop (pickup) car traffic, and litter. People do complain about "too many" but it's my reading that the real issues there are the taking of premesies which could be used for other outlets they want (but there are 10 more available!) and the neighbour effects (which can be handled).

Please vote for me - Graham Ellis, Independent, Melksham Town (South Ward) for town council on 6th May. To support a safe, happy, vibrant town centre.
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Illustrations - two (random) Melksham shop fronts, 3 April 2021