Regeneration

From: Aidan Doyle
Date: 21 February 2009

Comments

What a good idea to want a JD Wetherspoons in Wickford. I can't think of a quicker way to shut down Wickford's community centres. Many people give up a lot of time and effort to keep these places open but they can't compete with prices of large corporations. Please don't profess to represent the people of Wickford because you don't. If I have any spare time after doing voluntary work for the local community I will spend it on informing people of your short sightedness and ineptitude as a group

Comment from Wickford Action Group

We do try to represent the views of the majority of people in Wickford, whilst taking the opposing view into account where possible. However, we clearly cannot please everyone all the time.

JD Wetherspoons is a pub and we do not have many in Wickford since the demise of the Castle and now the Swan. Many residents congratulated us in the High Street on Saturday (21st February) for the initiative we have taken, and whilst we see Mr Doyle's point, we do not feel that a Wetherspoons would take trade away from other community centres, and would hopefully attract more people into the town. Our intention is not to harm existing businesses but to encourage new ones.

Wickford needs a family friendly restaurant where you can get good meals, and enjoy an evening out, as in Billericay, which has a vibrant high street with many shops and cafes, which all seem to be doing well regardless of Wetherspoons.

(Wickford Action Group)