Shopkeeper's concerns over 'mart' retail outlet
AN Edzell shopkeeper has warned that the potential creation of a new retail outlet at the Old Mart site could have "serious adverse effects" on village life.
Dianne Timony, who has run the Wee Market Shop in Edzell High Street since 2001, said the plan to open a new shop at Lethnot Road could take business away from the village's shops by effectively removing the attraction for passing trade.
That, she said, could cost jobs or even lead to some retailers closing their doors.
She also believes that the services likely to be provided by the new shop would replicate that already available in the village and was thus surplus to requirements.
Mrs Timony's warning came in a letter to Inveresk Community Council after the group decided to express its support for the plan, a move she described as "nave."
She said: "It is a financial fact that business can only generate income for itself by taking it from someone else. This is even more so in recession times. There is no spare cash just waiting for a suitable outlet to spend it.
"Edzell village is unusual in these times in the number of shops it has. Many villages now have no shops at all. The Edzell shops are well supported by villagers and people in the surrounding areas, but they need the extra income from visitors to their area.
"Without this, it is unlikely that all of them will survive either at all or in their current format.
"Visitors who come to Edzell usually come by car. The creation of out-of-village parking will attract the visitors directly there.
"I have heard statements made on behalf of the new retail outlet that it will not be duplicating anything already in the village. I believe there will be considerable duplication with such facilities as caf/restaurant, refreshments, farm shop, greetings cards and clothing etcetera.
"No one can foresee what the outcome will be, but it does pose a serious threat to the village shops if business is taken from them.
"It is rather nave of a group like the community council to publicly offer its support to a commercial venture without considering the serious adverse effects which it may have on existing businesses and its effect on village life."
Members said they could see both sides of the debate, but pointed out that there was already duplication of the services offered within the village.
Chair, Charles Simpson, said: "We already have shops in the village that duplicate what others are selling. It seems difficult to reconcile this situation when there are other outlets in the village that already replicate what's being sold."
Others said that they didn't believe the possible new outlet would have an effect on the village's shops, with one member saying: "It's out of the village as far as the people in the village are concerned - it shouldn't affect regular customers."
The community council are to write to Mrs Timony to thank her for her views.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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