Traders asked to do more

With the towns' lights due to be switched on, on Saturday, November 17, councillor Paul Wells told the policy and resources council meeting that late-night shopping had not been well supported in the past.

'Very few people came to support it when I was doing late night shopping and more and more people are doing their shopping later,' he told the meeting.

The chairman of the committee Greg Burt believed the fact that more shops open 24 hours and on Sundays had contributed to the lack of support, but he was disappointed that the Chamber of Commerce were't doing a little more.

But, he said, 'there are lots of other things the Chamber of Commerce could do such as getting involved in a shop window competition.'

But Adam Cunard said that there were '˜so few good quality shops left' and only one men's clothes shop.

Mr Burt concluded that the council would like to see a more formal event taking place, which perhaps could be done nearer to Christmas.