Wealdstone is open, say traders (From Harrow Times)

Wealdstone is open, say traders

9:47am Monday 29th September 2008 in

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TRADERS in Wealdstone have issued a plea to shoppers to come back to the high street in a bid to return it to its former glory.

High Street has been closed to traffic for more than ten years, and traders have struggled and been forced to close as less and less people chose to do their shopping in Wealdstone.

However, Harrow Council has reopened the road to traffic and made improvements to the road in a bid to change the town's fortunes.

Milan Shah, vice-chairman of Wealdstone Traders' Association, said: “It was very bad before, lots of shops were closing, and people were in the doldrums.

“Since it opened, there are more people on the high street, with lots of people walking up and down.

“It's busy now, it looks like life has come back to Wealdstone.”

The street was reopened last month, but with little fanfare as work continues to be finished.

The reopening was originally scheduled for the end of May, but a series of unforeseen delays put it back, and Transport for London is still working on installing new traffic lights at the junction with Grant Road.

However, traders are desperate for people to know that changes have been made and the road is now more accessible to traffic and in particular to shoppers.

Bharat Rughani, a worker at Visioncare, said: “I think the high street opening has had a very positive impact, and we've seen an increase in trade since it did.

“It's a step in the right direction, and now we want people to come and support their local businesses, their local shops, we want to make sure we support each other in this.”

The council has come under fire for the delays in reopening the road, as business owners fear they may have to close before real improvements are seen.

A reopening ceremony, scheduled for Monday, September 22, had to be cancelled at the last minute as it became clear the work had not been finished.

It has been re-planned for a few weeks time, but traders are not willing to wait.

Short term parking bays have been installed, and vehicles are now allowed to drive one way down the street.

Local shops are hoping this will encourage more people to park there and do their shopping.

However, it remains to be seen whether the changes will have the desired effect, with all businesses facing an uncertain future in the current economic decline.