BALLOT: A brand new currency for Worcester shoppers?

7:10am Wednesday 24th February 2010

By David Paine

NEW currency is being planned for Worcestershire in a bid to boost trade in local shops and businesses.

Shoppers would be able to spend their Worcestershire pounds at shops and venues which have signed up to the scheme within the county.

In return, they would only be able to use the Worcestershire pounds to secure stock and services from county suppliers.

One Worcestershire pound would equal one pound sterling and both would operate alongside one another. It is hoped a very small percentage of each Worcestershire pound spent could be diverted into a pot which would then go towards funding community projects.

No decision has yet been made and a full consultation with shoppers and businesses is being promised before the currency is introduced.

The Worcestershire pound idea follows your Worcester News’ Buy Local campaign which encouraged people to spend their money in the city’s shops. The Worcestershire pound, which would be of little use to larger chains and multi-national companies due to rules stating the money would have to stay within Worcestershire, has been cautiously welcomed by some local shops and businesses.

Anne Perkins of the Little ginger Pig Company in Copenhagen Street, Worcester, which already sources a lot of its food locally, said: “I like the idea and if managed right it could be a nice gimmick for people and might be something tourists could get into, but it needs a lot of thought. There needs to be an incentive to get people on the street to want to get and use the money.”

Carl Thompson, director of Thompsons Discount Electrical which has two stores in the city centre and a warehouse in Wyld’s Lane, said he would want to see more information on it.

“The only thing is if there’s a cost involved,” he said. “At the moment we’re trying to cut down as much cost as possible, but it’s not a bad idea.”

Robert Wilkins of environmental group Transition Worcester, which has come up with the idea as part of Worcester Forward – the sustainable community strategy for the city produced by the Worcester Alliance – admitted a county-wide scheme does need some serious thought.

“It doesn’t solve all of the problems of the local economy but it does get people talking about how we become an interesting shopping centre again,” he said.

Ken Wigfield, chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Worcestershire, said anything to encourage shoppers to support their town centres should be welcomed, especially given the current economic climate.

He said: “The idea of a local currency could be a new and very positive tool to help retailers, though we would hope for a very simple and effective system which suits both the retailer and their customer whilst not over-burdening the business with paperwork.”

Anybody wanting to express their opinion on the Worcestershire pound should e-mail coordinator@worcesteralliance.org.uk and also share their thoughts in the comment box below.