BUSINESSES in Haverhill town centre have been urged to take control of their own future in order to ensure they don't fall foul of the economic downturn.
Town centre manager Tina Hanks issued the rallying cry to business owners during a meeting of Haverhill Town Centre Business Group last Wednesday.
During the meeting, some town centre business owners suggested St Edmundsbury Borough Council could
help them to compete better in the market by providing shoppers with free parking.
However, Ms Hanks said the solution to a brighter economic future rested in their own hands.
She said: “I’m a marketing person by background and I’ve been through two recessions. I’ve been there and you work your way out of it. You don’t wait for the council to give you free parking, you have to make things happen for yourself.”
Ms Hanks went on to explain she had sponsored seven free hour-long sessions with business advisory organisation MENTA, which have since been extended to ten sessions – and urged people to take up grasp the opportunity.
She said: “You work in the business, you have never taken the time to work on it, well, here’s your opportunity.
“We are talking about do this, do that and do the other. What are you going to do to help your business?
“Here we have some opportunities for you. Are you going to use it or are we going to sit here in six months’ time and say ‘what are the council doing for us?’.”
Five hour-long sessions with MENTA are still available – three on Thursday, December 4, at MENTA’s office in Hollands Business Centre, Hollands Road, and a further two on Monday, December 8, at the borough council offices, in Lower Downs Slade.
To reserve a slot, contact Ms Hanks on 01440 765100 or email her at Tina.Hanks@stedsbc.gov.uk
n Should the council be providing free parking for shoppers? Email news@haverhillecho.com with your views or write to Letters, Haverhill Echo, 7 Queen’s Square, Haverhill, Suffolk CB9 9EG.
