IT has been quite apparent that the harbingers of doom have been having a field day of late with all the tales of woe and despair regarding the future of Bewdley. The flood defence work and associated lack of parking have been taking the brunt of the blame.

Isn't it about time that we perhaps start to look at what Bewdley has to offer rather than give it the "kiss of death"?

1 Consider the number of shops that have taken advantage of the grants on offer from Opportunity Bewdley - the town has never looked so good. A number of traders have even moved premises and spent considerable amounts of money on revitalising their new surroundings.

2 As for the flood defence works - surely, once complete, they will not only give much-needed relief to the riverside residents and businesses, but also create a tourist attraction. Even Roger Prestwood (the project leader) was put forward for an award. Despite "lack of parking", there was no shortage of people in the town when the river flooded earlier this year or, more recently, Bewdley Carnival - everyone must have found somewhere to park.

3 Surely every town, irrelevant of size, looks to attract more visitors and customers. Most councils have incentives and plans to accommodate this. There is possibly room for improvement here too, but part of the responsibility lies with individual shopkeepers. Is the stock attractively priced and displayed? Are the windows clean and the exterior paintwork in good order? Are staff suitably trained? Customer service is becoming a thing of the past these days. A small community town like Bewdley can offer something that seems sadly lacking in big superstores - personal service. Even Merchants Fish Bar have been playing their part, winning a string of awards for hygiene, good housekeeping and staff training.

4 How about promotions, prize draws or vouchers? Again, as we are providing a much-needed local service, our customers are the people putting bread and butter on our table. An incentive or reward always goes down well.

5 Finally, Bewdley has a great deal of charm. Not everyone is seduced by the size and grandeur of the superstore. We have got a great deal to offer, so let us put a smile on our faces and convince shoppers that this is where they need to spend their cash, instead of blaming external forces for poor sales.

STEVE GOULD

Independent retailer and member of Bewdley Chamber of Trade,

The Zoo

Load Street

Bewdley