8:00am Sunday 9th August 2009
By James Nadal
ANGRY businessmen in Marlow say they feel “excluded” from a scheme to boost trade in High Wycombe town centre.
A new loyalty card scheme for shops in High Wycombe town centre was announced last week as part of plans for the £585,000 business improvement grant handed out by the government to help councils fight the recession.
Around £164,000 will go to High Wycombe Town Centre Partnership.
It plans to use a small part of this funding for a pilot shopping loyalty card scheme.
A further £500,000 of funding could become available and would be used over three years until March 2012.
Marlow Chamber of Trade president Andy McCready said he was “disappointed” Marlow was not included in the loyalty scheme.
“I think the council focuses on Wycombe and does seem to exclude Marlow. Why can't Marlow be included?” he said.
“I would like to run through the results closely when they have them to see if there's an increase in trade.”
Marlow Town Councillor Jo Braybrooke said: “Wycombe seem to leave Marlow out of everything, we are considered to be wealthy and quite a prosperous town but it's not that prosperous.
“They seem to disregard us and think we don't need any help for anything, it's grossly unfair.”
Geoff Joliffe owner of clothes retailers Joliffe's in Chapel Street said: “They've already spent a lot there on Eden which has put more pressure on Marlow and other areas.
“They are taking business away from Marlow, which is still struggling financially.”
Duncan McDonald from Sunflower Framing in Dean Street said: “It's very disappointing for Marlow because they are working so hard on their own without any help at all.
“The Chamber of Trade are working their backsides off to make it a better place but the council don't seem to supporting what it has been doing.”
Anthony Jackson, owner of Jacksons of Marlow, said: “Marlow in the past has been very affluent and done very well relative to Wycombe so maybe it would have been the right decision.
“But you just look at the number of empty shops there's been down in Marlow, I think it has suffered massively in the economic downturn.
"So maybe now is the right time to get some support.”
However, he added loyalty card schemes had “never worked” in his experience.
WDC spokesman Sue Robinson said the £585,000 has been allocated to a total of nine projects and some of the money will be available to areas other than High Wycombe.
She said: “It will be used to fund a variety of projects designed to stimulate and help businesses within Wycombe district.
“Projects for the district include incubator business units for small start-up businesses(Buckingham House), helping local businesses save money by saving energy and a local recruitment and executive employment service.”
£4,000 has been earmarked for Marlow Town Council for projects including the farmers' market.
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