Local retailers warn that if residents of Chorleywood and surrounding villages don’t support them to a greater degree, there will be no shops at all. And this could actually happen in the next five years.
Footfall has dropped dramatically in Chorleywood shops recently. Some are blaming it on the closure of Nat West bank forcing locals to pay in cash and cheques in Ricky or Amersham branches and doing a bit of shopping while they are at it (you can pay in both for most banks into the Post Office although it takes a while to reach your account).
Others are convinced that the lack of brand choice in the Co-op compared to Budgens, plus the increased likelihood of till queues has resulted in people shopping more at the supermarket giants. Then there’s the parking which seems to be getting worse. No doubt more women working to meet the crazy property prices on our patch and the increase in online shopping has contributed too. Whatever the reasons, the bottom line is if it doesn’t change we will have no village centre.
Action is vital. Chorleywood Magazine in conjunction with Chorleywood Residents’ Association will be distributing a survey to establish reasons why people are using our shops less. Look out for it and please fill it in. It’s down to every one of us and it’s the usual story, use it or lose it.