Residents have reacted furiously after it emerged that an independent children’s clothes shop is the latest business to leave Wokingham town centre.
Independent children’s clothes shop This Little Piggy will be leaving Wokingham and relocating to Warfield in February. They cited a 35% rent increase and roadworks affecting footfall for their reasons for relocating.
It becomes the fourth business in a little over three weeks to leave Wokingham, which has prompted a strong reaction from residents on social media.
One resident said: “Wokingham has the qualities to be a lovely town. Great location, lovely people, wealthy and huge revenue potential. Just imagine what a competent authority could do with it.”
Another added: “A day out in Wokingham town is now nothing more than a coffee and quick stop by the market, within the hour you’re back sitting in the traffic attempting to make your way home. Other high streets nearby seem to be flourishing.”
Another person said: “If the council allowed people to park longer in car parks and at a reasonable cost PLUS not charge exuberant rent on shops which in turn means the prices increased horrendously. Less rent, lower prices, more sales, less closing shops.”
The council have responded and said that they gave This Little Piggy their best efforts to support them and that they believe there is plenty of interest from other businesses to move in to what they described as a ‘prime location’.
Mark Ashwell, Wokingham Borough Council’s executive member for business development told Wokingham Today: “I wish this business well, having given our very best efforts to support them. We have a lot of interest in this prime location.”
However, some residents have slammed the council for their treatment of local businesses.
Another resident said: “The council is pathetic, they were meant to be hosting a meeting with business owners of Molly Millars Lane this morning and it was cancelled without any notice.
“Multiple business owners (including myself) were turned away. The email that went out said nothing regarding RSVPing and yet it was cancelled because of a poor response rate. They need to take responsibility for the damage they are causing the high street because they’re choking our lovely town without any repercussions – until the next election, that is.”
Another person added: “Sad but not surprising. Wokingham is a nightmare to get to with all the roadworks, parking expensive, rates to high. Garden centre will have free parking, cheaper rates and a positive footfall. Wake up Wokingham Council. You are slowly killing the town!”
