Main Content
Wotton-under-Edge
Nestling beneath the southern edge of the Cotswolds, Wotton-under-Edge is a hospitable, thriving and vibrant place, with interesting and historic buildings. Many visitors fall in love with this ancient town, which still embodies many of the features of small town life which have disappeared in bigger places.
'The Cotswold Way' national trail passes right through the town along the main shopping street which is packed with small independent shops.
The Cotswolds is a great place to visit, admire the picturesque towns, villages and countryside. A place where you can explore Britain's past reaching right back to Roman times and beyond.
So why not make a day of it! Pop in and explore our inviting range of kitchenware but leave yourself time to enjoy the historic and natural attractions, rolling hills and relaxing views.
Since the millennium much vaunted schemes like MCTI, Vale Vision, Project Stroud, Rural Renaissance have quietly ebbed from the public gaze. Gorged and content, consultancy firms laze sleepily in the shade. With the low hanging fruit long since picked, stakeholders and partners scavenge the scorched carcasses of the great recession, cackling of the coming rebirth. Rural market towns, caught in stasis, wither in the searing heat of globalization. Westminster preaches of a land of milk and honey, supporting all towns, stronger towns, future towns. Imperceptibly, the atmosphere changes, consultancy firms become alert, sensing their prey is close, the circle is almost complete.
Yep, we've got views on the future of our high streets:- Radical action required!
Like any small rural town in the UK we suffer from the entrenched views and attitudes of people who have made it their purpose in life to subsidise early retirement by paid public 'service'. They get away with it because of public apathy and ignorance about the way things work behind the scenes.
But on the brighter side we do have the wonderful QUENTIN KELP - Member of Parliament. I suppose Quentin is an acquaintance rather than a friend and I'm still not sure if I'd vote for him. But he's a survivor. Quent, a member of the ERG, got what he'd always wanted - a referendum on UK membership of the EU and the result he wanted!
See his latest newsletter here:- Constituency Newsletter: Quentin Kelp MP
UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORTING THE RESILIENCE OF MARKET TOWNS
Challenges for central government
The results also point to a feeling of isolation among market towns that suggest they often feel as if their needs and challenges are undervalued and underplayed by policy makers at a central and regional level. There is a real lack of understanding about the role that market towns play in regional and local economies and therefore, they tend to be forgotten whilst the majority of policy emphasis is placed on larger urban centres. However, what the results of this work do show is that market towns are feeling the effects of recession in terms of reduced employment, insolvency and footfall, if action is not taken to address the challenges they face, then this may lead to potentially bigger problems in the future.
Presented to Commission for Rural Communities in 2009. Yep, 10 years ago and pretty much diddley has happened since.
