THERE is concern that the commercial centre of gravity in Tenbury is moving too much to the Bridge end of the town.

Eric Hudson, Mayor of Tenbury, says that the Market Street end of town needs all the support that it can get.

He wants to see a package of measures to help traders at the end of the town furthest from the Teme Bridge.

But Mr Hudson says that he fully supports the moving of the Tenbury Museum into Teme Street and nearer to the bridge.

This will be the latest move that it is feared could attract people away from one end of town to another.

It is anticipated that the museum move could take up to two years to complete.

Two years ago the new Tesco supermarket opened at the bridge end of the town and that was followed last year by the closure of Bowketts at the other end of Tenbury that is now a boarded up building.

The Royal Oak pub that is scheduled for redevelopment has also been closed for some time.

“I fully support the potential move of the Museum to the Old Fire Station,” said Mr Hudson.

“The present building has limited facilities and is ‘off the beaten track’ for some visitors.

“The new location would enable the Museum and History Group to offer expanded services, be easy to find and offer another reason for visitors to come to Tenbury.”

But he does not want a part of Tenbury that he says offers a treasure trove of shops to be left out in the cold.

“The Market street and Cross street area has some of the most interesting independent shops in Tenbury, a delicatessen, florist, fish shop, greengrocer, boutique, jewellery designer and several others,” added Mr Hudson.

“I’m hoping that Bowketts can be revitalised and the tenants of the Round Market find even more occasions for it to be open.

“I think that these retailers need all the support that can be given, perhaps with more signage, because visitors might come to town and miss this important part of the town completely.”

But Tony Penn, who represents Tenbury on Malvern Hills District Council, believes that the whole town is thriving and does not fear for the shops away from Teme Street that he says are doing well.

“There is a greengrocer who tells me he is doing great business,” said Mr Penn.

“The cheese shop appears to be doing well and we have a florist who has moved from Ludlow to Tenbury.”

Mr Penn feels it unlikely another supermarket will come to the town to replace Bowketts and believe the site could work well for housing providing smaller and more affordable homes near the centre of the town.

He says that final details are being agreed before work can start on a housing development on the site of the Royal Oak which he hopes will begin later this year.