The All-New-Yet-Unimproved Somerset Cuonty Council has revealed that it will be changing its name in time for Christmas and will henceforth be known as the All-New-Yet-Unimproved Scrooge Cuonty Council.
The move after comes after ANYUSCC confirmed that the traditional free car parking on Saturdays in the run up to Christmas will not go ahead this year, with shoppers instead encouraged to spend their money at out-of-town shops, such as the retail parks in Easton-under-Water and Fridgpond, and Red Ruby Garden Centre on the outskirts of Smalltown, where parking is free.
Shops in Smalltown and Dullbridge have always welcomed the increase in trade which accompanied the suspension of charges, as it offered a chance for shoppers to share in ANYUSSC’s largesse and encouraged a festive feel to a trip to the shops, where they could downs their gard earned cash or enjoy a coffee and cake without having to worry about their parking ticket expiring.
Instead, with the news that parking must be paid for and with the Smalltown Christmas Tree now a Hedge, there’s not a lot to entice shoppers into the town and this is sure to have a knock-on effect for shops and businesses who had been hoping for a couple of bumper trading weekends to help carry them through the New Year quiet season.
ANYUSCC’s short-sighted decision to save some pennies whilst losing pounds everywhere else could very well come back to bite them, when businesses decide it is not worth continuing and more properties become vacant, leading to a decrease in business rates and another nail in the coffin for Main Street.