A THRIVING town centre is one of the key indicators of how a community is doing.

It is worrying that so many independent businesses in Witney feel their future is uncertain.

Without a broad mix of shops on offer, people will find another place to do their shopping and it is hard to get those people back when they have found another place to buy the things they want.

If some of these familiar local names disapear from Witney town centre over the coming months and years then they will surely be missed.

It is up to shoppers to make sure they help them keep going in the face of competition from big national chains, who see Witney and West Oxfordshire’s growing population as an increasingly attractive market, and from online retailers, who do not have the burden of overheads like business rates.

But big names do bring shoppers into a town centre.

If they come in for something specific from Marks & Spencer they may stop at a cafe for a quick tea coffee or see an item in a shop window that they forgot they needed.

Free parking is also a massive bonus. Very few town centres offer such a good incentive to get shoppers in and as long as this is maintained then Witney’s shops will surely see the benefits.

Town centre businesses, the district council and the Government should work together to make sure places like Witney retain a diverse range of shops.