New Shops on High Street

Epping High Street has attracted the interest of significant national shop chains in recent months. First Costa Coffee moved into the old Dixons store, followed by Holland and Barrett who took over the empty Co-op chemists store. Local Lib Dem councillors welcomed the fact that they have kept the 'traditional-style' bow windows and repainted the shop front attractively. "This is a real contrast to some shops which don't appear to think about the impact of their facias or let the corporate identity override everything," said town councillor Janet Hedges.

Now the bookshop chain Ottakers has shown interest in the old Batchelors shop by putting in planning applications for signage and internal alterations. "Chains like this don't move into a town without doing proper research into their prospects so it's a good sign that they think Epping is worth investing in," said local town councillor Olive Dunseath.

However she said she hoped that the chains wouldn't squeeze out local independent shops. "It's up to us as local residents to vote with our feet and support our local independent shops. In particular Epping can't afford to lose many more shops which sell basic goods and provide an alternative to the supermarkets."