Poll: What You Think To Extending Town Shopping Hours?

Wrexham.com was challenged at last night’s Town Centre Forum meeting to ask you the reader a question about opening times in town.

The polls are below, so please take part, and the background report to why we are asking them is below them…

POLL NOW CLOSED RESULTS BELOW:

Speaking at the meeting, new Forum chair Nigel Lewis referred to a recent Manchester University study which has identified twenty five key ‘action points’ for the town centre, with retail opening hours being high on the list. At last night’s Forum the ideas were debated, with two main questions raised – which are asked above.

Mr Lewis said: “Town centres have declined and one reason is that people have choice outside of town and on the internet. Towns need to consider hours that retailers are available.”

These comments were echoed by Bob Gray, Yorke Street who said: “Things have moved on and people now buy things when they want.”

Currently many shops in the town centre are open until around 5-6pm, with some shops on Eagles Meadow remaining open slightly later.

Manager of Eagles Meadow Kevin Critchley said: “Thursday is already the late night shopping for Christmas, so if you are going to do it then keep it as a Thursday.

Mr Critchley went on to say anecdotally he has heard of feedback from coach tours regarding the opening times of the town’s markets, and asking if extend hours could be available there.

Further he said: “Sunday trading in Wrexham is relatively low, in some places around the country Sunday’s are the second day of the week. I would say look at Sundays and Wednesday afternoons before looking at late night trading.”

Council Leader Mark Pritchard supported the principle saying: “We have to try it, perhaps a pilot scheme for six months and see if it is successful?”

Councillor Bill Baldwin mentioned that he believed free parking after 5pm would be key to any success of a scheme.

However Haydn Taylor from Brook Street said: “This is not the forum for business really and we need to ask business owners and traders, as without them it will not happen.”

Another town centre trader said that putting in all the hours is a ‘massive commitment’ already for a husband and wife business, with any extra opening hours possibly being a step too far.

Overall the meeting felt the idea ‘had legs’ and the challenge was raised to ask the question outside the forum to as wide audience as possible to get some feedback from the people of Wrexham and the surrounding area.

Thus we are… so please vote above and we will feedback the results to the next Town Centre Forum meeting!

(This poll is not scientific and is aimed to give a feel of views, and unlike than our prior EU Election straw poll this is not limited per reader.)