Man in the know: councillor Bob Wade
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Bracknell's small firms remain very optimistic
By Mike PyleApril 17, 2009
Small businesses across Bracknell Forest remain bullish despite the recession, according to an expert.
Bracknell Forest deputy mayor and small business champion councillor Bob Wade believes firms remain optimistic in the creidt crunch.
He also said the borough was feeling the effects of the recession six months later than the rest of the country.
Do you agree with cllr Wade's analysis of the current economic situation in Bracknell Forest? Have your say here.
“In the last recession Bracknell Forest Council noticed Bracknell Forest was about six months behind the rest of the country," cllr Wade said during a meeting on April 7.
“The same seems to be true this time.
“At the moment, traders are fairly bullish in Bracknell Forest from a small business point of view, although there are obviously issues.”
Bracknell Forest Council leader Paul Bettison backed Cllr Wade, who is also a Crowthorne Parish councillor.
Cllr Bettison said: “Six months isn’t a long time in terms of being ahead or behind in a recession but, as with many things in life, it’s better to be ahead of the game.
“One of the benefits of being behind the recession is it gives us a six-month build up to whatever we’ve seen happening elsewhere in the country so we can be prepared.”
Several shops in Bracknell town centre have closed in the last six months – Woolworths, M&S Simply Food, Adams and Principles have all shut up shop for good.
While these national chain shops were closed all over the country, some local traders say they are coping better that their big-name counterparts.
Gerry Hammond, manager of electrical shop Lakes in Princess Square, Bracknell, added: “The situation in the town centre isn’t good but it’s not as bad as in other places and it’s not as bad as some people say.
“There is a lot of positivity about and there are still people with money to spend.”
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