A WOKINGHAM shop owner says repeated vandalism could force her and other businesses to close.
Jo Jackson has called for CCTV to be installed across the town as well as increased police patrols.
And she slammed council bosses for installing cameras on the revamped Peace Street complex while “ignoring” the other side of the town.
Jo, who has worked at Kerry Roberts Barbers for 27 years and owned it for the past five, said she was “sickened” to discover her shop door had been smashed again last weekend.
She says the cost of repairs has pushed up her insurance warning more vandalism could force her to close the business which has been in Alexandra Court for the past 30 years.
The Specsavers store in Market Place also suffered a broken window last Friday night.
“My heart sank when I arrived on Saturday morning to open up and saw the glass smashed,” said Jo.
“It will cost me over £350 to have it repaired which is a day’s takings for me. I can’t afford to keep paying out that sort of money. I am on the edge of closing up.
“We need CCTV across the town not just in the fancy new Peach Street area. It would also be nice to see police in the town especially at weekends when things can get quite rowdy but I don’t know what the chances of that are.
“I heard Specsavers also had a window smashed in. What does that sort of vandalism that seems to go unchecked say to visitors to the town or prospective businesses?
“Why would anyone want to start a business here when vandals seem able to operate at will?”
Jo added she felt Alexandra Court and the surrounding area was being neglected while money was being poured into Peach Street.
“We lost a lost of income due to the redevelopment and now I have more vandalism to pay for.
“It gets harder and harder for businesses like myself to keep going.
“Then we see Peach Street getting lots of attention while this side of town is ignored.
“We pay rent and rates so we should also get proper support but we don’t.”
Cllr Dave Davis from Wokingham Town Council said he had sympathy for Jo’s plight.
He added: “The town is actively looking at how we can install CCTV to certain areas of the town.”
