Traders in plea to halt decline

Councillors Val Sedgwick and Barbara Beeley have started a petition to stop another takeaway opening in premises formerly used by a mobile phone shop — and next to an existing takeaway. Val said: “We've got too many takeaways and we don't need another one. On Friday and Saturday nights you can see the food containers all over the place.” Pictured are Councillors Sedgwick (left) and Beeley (third right) with supporters.

Takeaways and empty shops hit businesses
SHOP owners and local councillors have made a plea for help to save Lees village from further decline.

They blame big supermarkets, the rising number of takeaways and the closure of High Street businesses for falling trade in a once thriving centre now blighted by many boarded-up shop fronts.

Desperate to get the district centre back on its feet, they are urging Oldham Council and residents to do what they can to support local shops.

In recent years Lees’ High Street has seen the closure of a hair salon, the NatWest Bank, a mobile phone shop and a family-run bakery. Instead it now has many late-night takeaways.

Nicola Hughes, who took over a florist business eight months ago, said: “Supermarkets are pushing business away; they are a lot to compete with. It is easier for people to go to one place. People need to stick to our locally run, family businesses.”

Pet store owner Carol Jackson said: “There are one or two derelict shops that are an eyesore, which could be taking new business away. And we need to make sure no more takeaways are going to come.

“I don’t think the council has ever done enough for our area. I don’t think they encourage small businesses enough.”

Saddleworth and Lees councillor Val Sedgewick said: “I’m Lees born and bred, and I can tell you it has definitely changed. I remember all the shops we used to have, and how it was thriving like a village should. You didn’t have to go into Oldham for anything, but things change, people’s shopping habits change.

“We are fighting the takeaways as much as we can, we want new businesses instead. I think some of the eyesores around the centre put people off. We need someone to invest in those buildings and bring them back to what they used to be. They are driving people away from investing.”

Councillor Shoab Akhtar, Cabinet member for business, skills and the town centre, said: “We sympathise with these traders but the issues they raise are not unique to Lees. Oldham Council is continually seeking to attract new private investment. But we also have to be realistic: Local authority finances are under more pressure than at any time for several generations. We are hearing no appetite from local firms to put up business rates specifically to help pay for new environmental and regeneration initiatives.”




READ the full version of this story only in our print and eChron editions



Follow us on Twitter - @OldhamChronicle