I FIND the attitude of Kidderminster Swan Centre shop managers amazing.

Don't they realise that by continually spreading "doom and gloom" they are turning customers away from coming to Kidderminster to shop.

Good salesmen/women never talk negatively, only positively. However difficult the problem, you talk "up" not "down".

Ironically, they complain if the car parks are full and yet again if there's space.

I park and shop in the Swan Centre on Thursdays between 11am and 1pm and have always found a parking space.

Most people I talk to about car parking say they have no great difficulty.

If the council had not agreed to the KTC1 development or the college move we would have been criticised as being unimaginative and holding back business.

Unfortunately Kidderminster, for years, has lacked any really eye-catching shops and nationally known stores have failed to inspire and generate new customers - with the exception of Woolworths' Santa's Grotto. Well done!

Recently I was advised by Boots staff to go to their Merry Hill branch to buy their own brand men's talc and hair spray. I went to their competitors instead.

Those of us who are past buying teens/20s fashions, only have one good clothes shop which provides quality and style.

Finally, it's a fallacy that it's easy to park at Merry Hill. I went to return a Christmas present and waited 25 minutes, and there was the cost of the petrol.

Let us look on this as an exciting opportunity to increase business and have an attractive town centre that people can be proud of and want to visit often.

COUNCILLOR PAULINE HAYWARD

District council portfolio holder

for transport and traffic

Churchill Forge, Churchill