Mark Ashwell, the Wokingham borough council executive councillor who looks after business in the borough, has acted to clarify myths, and to provide more facts about footfall in Wokingham town centre.
Above all, his message is: “Please don’t talk our town down.”
The subject is an emotive one, as Mark revealed to Wokingham Today that he’d been verbally abused following recent stories about businesses leaving the town.
He said: “Wokingham town centre matters a great deal to residents, businesses, and the council, so it’s completely understandable that we care deeply about how it is performing”.
As stated at a recent full council meeting, he again insisted that footfall in the town is “robust”. The data seen by Wokingham Today, collected by a company called Huq, shows increases in “passing” and “visiting” data.
The Huq system uses mobile phone data which has been continually present in the town footfall area for more than 10 minutes. It does not collect personal data, merely tracks the fact that a mobile phone is in a specific area.
The data is used by retailers, councils, shopping centres and events across the country to measure visitor data.
Parking data is mixed depending on location but overall shows a minor decline of 1.6% year on year, as of September 2025.
“Recent footfall data shows the town centre is holding up well, even during the challenging period of roadworks.
“It’s also worth remembering how much has changed over the past two decades.
“Regeneration has brought many more people to live in and around the town centre, creating a stronger local customer base and a busier, more active place than it once was.
“While current infrastructure works are understandably frustrating, they are intended to bring long-term benefits by easing congestion and improving access to the town centre”.
Offering an element of free parking has also been mentioned. Mark confirmed that the cost to the council, both in terms of implementation and lost revenue, had been estimated at more than £650,000 until the current roadworks are completed.
Cllr Ashwell said: “We are open about the challenges around parking and council finances.
“While parking charges are relatively low, we recognise that even small barriers can affect people’s choices.
“Our long-term ambition is to make access to the town centre as easy as possible. At the same time, we must manage resources carefully to protect essential services and avoid the difficulties faced by many other councils”.
He also mentioned how business rates are collected and distributed, saying that although Wokingham borough council collects business rates of circa £100 million, that is on behalf of the Government and only in the region of 6% will eventually returned to Wokingham from the start of the next financial year.
He also confirmed that currently, businesses in the borough are being supported with payment plans to businesses in rent or rate arrears..
He also addressed recent suggestions that Wokingham borough council has the power to bring high street chains to the town.
He said: “We need a vibrant, attractive town to attract retailers.
“Wokingham borough council cannot force them to open up shop here, but of course we will support them if that’s what they decide.
“Ultimately, if shoppers are using the town and businesses see that, they’re more likely to want to come here.
“The council cannot control shopping habits, but where we can help, we do.
“By listening, being honest about constraints, and focusing on long-term improvements, we can continue moving in the right direction together.”
Fully understanding the local issues facing the town, Warwick Heskins, the recently appointed town centres manager, told Wokingham Today how some of the challenges it is facing are also being faced by many towns in the country.
Sounding a note of optimism, he said that the former This Little Piggy unit in Elms walk has been attracting interest from potential retailers, and the soon-to-be-empty Original Factory Shop in Market Place was already under offer, with a deal for a new occupier at an advanced stage.
He said: “Wokingham has a variety of independent shops including gifts, fashion, Jewellery, baby, art, home, and a vibrant night time economy with great pubs and restaurants.”
