As a shop worker and a member of the Bakewell Chamber of Trade I have found it quite disheartening that the two parties should have chosen to bicker and fight instead working together to reinvigorate the town's trade.
The recent dispute over the g
rant money donated to the Chamber of Trade (and not individual shop traders) by the town council has been completely thrown out of proportion.
The Christmas events on the streets, funded by the Chamber of Trade attracted, scores of people from across the region benefiting BOTH the markets and the shop traders.
The grant from the Town Council will go back into the Chamber to arrange future events, again, benefiting everyone.
The attacks and accusations thrown back and forth between market and shop traders surrounding this issue have been excessive and completely unnecessary.
Disputes like this will deter trade from the town, instead of attracting it.
Small rural market towns across the country have diminished over the years, but Bakewell continues to remain reasonably buoyant despite a decline in visitors.
It is my plea that the two parties continue to work TOGETHER and CO-OPERATE for the sake of the town, traders alike and the local economy.
Colin Swindell
Manager,
Cornerstone,
Matlock Street,
Bakewell
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