Action group tackles empty shops

A businesswoman is setting up an action group to stop what she says is the decline of her east Berkshire town.

A BBC survey found that nearly one in six shops in Maidenhead are currently unoccupied. Out of 257 shops covered by the survey, 41 were found to be empty.

Suzy Kirkwood, of the Thames Valley Women's Business Group, wants to "bring the heart back to Maidenhead".

But councillor Wilson said local groups and businesses had already set up a partnership to "revitalise the town".

The BBC survey found many Maidenhead residents said they preferred to shop in Reading and Windsor.

I just don't understand why it is necessary to set up another group Councillor Derek Wilson

Ms Kirkwood said: "The people of Maidenhead deserve a better town.

"We need to look at what the young want. We need to encourage and brighten up the town centre and get schools involved in planting schemes.

"We need to bring the heart back to Maidenhead town centre for the people now - not let it fall further.

"If you walk around Maidenhead town centre, you will see no flowers."

But Mr Wilson said there was "no point" in setting up another group, when the issue of empty shops was already being tackled.

He said the Partnership for the Rejuvenation of Maidenhead (Prom) had met twice already and was independently chaired by the chair of the Maidenhead Civic Society.

"The aim of the partnership is to look at this very specific project of trying to revitalise Maidenhead town centre," he said.

A plan was being developed to improve "not only the retail side of Maidenhead but to also encourage further regeneration".

"I just don't understand why it is necessary to set up another group," he added.