High Street hopes

A DIRE warning to councillors not to "sit back and just watch" the decline of Epping's High Street has prompted an investigation into ways to safeguard its future.

Epping Forest Council announced it will look into how the town's prospects commercial can be enhanced following the plea for action from Epping councillor Jon Whitehouse (Liberal Democrat).

The authority jumped into action after Mr Whitehouse warned time was running out to address the High Street's problems - in particular, the loss of at least six shops in the past year and the spiralling number of restaurants and takeaways.

Mr Whitehouse warned Epping's identity was at risk: "Many people are unhappy about the trend away from retail businesses and towards coffee shops and other non-retail uses. The district council cannot afford to sit back and just watch."

He said an investigation would establish whether existing council policies affecting the make-up of the town centres should change and what financial resources could improve them.

EFDC's overview and scrutiny committee agreed last Thursday to set up a panel to start the review in May. It could take at least six months to complete.

It will gather evidence from traders, residents and landlords, consider national and local statistics and trends in high street trading. It will also look at other towns suffering similar problems.

Mr Whitehouse said yesterday (Wednesday, 22 March) (Wednesday): "I'm obviously very pleased about this. It struck me walking down the High Street the other day that another café is planning to move into the High Street. It demonstrates people's changing lifestyles - and we can't tell people not to drink coffee - but if we're not careful we'll end up with a clone High Street."

Isabel Coomb, who runs health food shop Positively Healthy, said it has been difficult to remain upbeat when other stores were closing but welcomed the review as a step in the right direction.

"This is great," she said. "If they're realising that there is a problem, then that's fantastic."

She added she hoped to become the new chairwoman of Epping's Town Centre Partnership and, if elected, would ensure it has a say in the review.

She said: "We want ways of trying to get our views across and trying to say 'come on, help us'."