Wokingham Town Centre Conference: Lib Dems Urge Wokingham Tories to take action to reverse Wokingham Town's decline (Wokingham Liberal Democrats)

Wokingham Liberal Democrats <info@wokinghamlibdems.org.uk>

Wokingham Town Centre Conference: Lib Dems Urge Wokingham Tories to take action to reverse Wokingham Town's decline

April 26, 2004 12:00 AM

Following the meeting of the Wokingham Town Centre Conference on Tuesday, Councillor Coling Lawley (Leader of the Opposition Lib Dem Councillor Group on Wokingham District Council) said, "It's time the Tory-controlled Council woke up and took action to revitalise Wokingham town centre. It's time for less talk and more action."

The Conference was attended by local traders, representatives from the Town Centre Management Initiative, the Chamber of Commerce, the Town Council and the District Council.

Coling Lawley said, "The mood was very sombre and negative: such a contrast to the enthusiasm and commitment we used to see at these meetings when the Lib Dems were in control of the Council. During the meeting, the Tory administration was criticised for allowing the town centre to stagnate. We know that we can't compete with the shopping centres of Bracknell and Reading, but Wokingham is the perfect town for independent retailers. To attract this niche market, we need to make our town centre inviting and accessible.

"Much more could be done to improve our town as a shopping centre. For a start, proper timetabling of roadworks would help enormously, as would better sign-posting. It's no good having a fabulous shopping centre that no-one can drive to! Another positive way forward would be to re-establish the Wokingham Focus group. This group used to be the driving force behind positive change in Wokingham. Now they seem to have been beaten into submission by the lethargy of the Tory administration."

Councillor Tina Marinos (Lib Dem Councillor for Evendons ward) said, "The uncertainty of the proposed Rose Street development seems to have cast a shadow over the town. We should hold regular Town Focus Groups so that everyone can keep in touch with progress and so that we can exchange ideas and views. Under the Tories, the meetings petered out, with the last one taking place in October 2001.

"It is such a shame that the enthusiasm for a better future is being stifled by inactivity from Shute End. Just a couple of years ago when morale was high, such a conference would have been a stimulating and forward looking occasion - this one was very negative."