Dear Editor,

I was very sad to discover that Parkers in Gloucester Road has closed down, and feel very sorry for the owners and the staff who worked there. I also read in your paper that if we want Ross to be a thriving, vibrant town we need to spend our money in the local shops. This is true, we must support local businesses if we want them to survive.

But those in authority could also do things to help. They could cut business rates and perhaps invite the representative for some of the larger, popular national stores to come and look at Ross and see if they would like to supply the town with their goods.

There are empty shops waiting to be filled so let’s start a campaign to do this.

We can talk to our local council, the county council and our MP, we need their help to let people know that Ross is open for businesses.

If we don’t do something Ross will slowly sink downhill. we need to talk this town up, so that Ross is put back on the map. We need to fill the local shops with local people, customers and staff. Let’s get a campaign up and running to save our town.

James Weatherhead, Ross