ECONOMY

These are comments put forward by members of the public at the formal Launch of the Healthcheck held on 15^th January 2003. The “dots” figure indicate that the suggestion was agreed with by that number of people.

Likes	Dislikes/Improvements
Secure lock‑ups for small businesses, e.g. builders, mail companies available for rent	Career mentoring please
Good range of shops apart from: - good quality supermarket - children’s/boy’s clothes shop	Vacant commercial property contributes nothing! Looks ugly
Encourage more London commuters to use Haslemere businesses 1 dot	The split between Weyhill and Haslemere centres damages the viability of both. A free merry‑go‑round bus service between the two in business would help
Attract small private traders to take over empty shops and add to the town’s individual atmosphere 12 dots	Haslemere Business Rates are very high but the general attitude to business is restrictive. Haslemere needs thriving businesses. Some relaxation of planning is required 3 dots
Haslemere Festival one week duration. Venues are already in situ; helps tourism and trade 8 dots	Hate the gaudy blue neon lights of Appollo Video 3 dots
Relatively good shopping Good spending power (needs harnessing) Visitor Information Centre for Leisure and Tourism – visitors and residents Encourage / force to come back 1 dot	Not enough local people purchasing locally Public toilets 1 dot Insufficient financial support from local Borough and County Councils
Beautiful town 9 dots	The enemies of a successful Haslemere are: 1. Waverley Borough Council 2. Surrey County Council 3 dots 3. Local Health Authority
Great range of shops: · Supermarkets · Dry Cleaners · Restaurants 6 dots · Cook Shops · Shoes · Books	Six new industrial start‑up units are scheduled for Unit 6, Kings Road Industrial Estate; although they are in the Surrey County Plan, Waverley Borough Council need to fund them – how? 5 dots

Likes	Dislikes/Improvements
Still independent, proprietor run shops 4 dots Gives the town character as well as range of products	There is not enough consideration given to the Shottermill/Lion Green area; it may not be a conservation area of the town but it should still be cared for 1 dot
This is a great town that continues to retain it’s charm and character 3 dots Don’t lose it to national political correctness	No parking for coaches – does this stop potential tourism and trade in the town?
Chamber of Commerce and Haslemere Society do an outstanding job 1 dot	Sort out the Gibbs Trust who are damaging the whole appearance/economy of Haslemere 15 dots
	Free parking in Somerfield car park to encourage shopping
	Need more places to eat and restaurants. Need to encourage more young people into the town
	Develop things that keep tourists in Haslemere (don’t send them off to Petworth/Arundel/Clandon Park or whatever). Taped town walks would be a good start – ask Richard Muir. Also longer taped walks – Blackdown – Gibbet Hill to encourage people who are not confident map readers. Children could “take” their parents 1 dot
	How will Waverley etc pay for things outside Surrey, e.g. Lynchmere, Fernhurst?
	A period of free time in car parks to encourage short‑term shopping 6 dots
	Schools / Education Current division of public facilities includes private establishments ? the appropriateness of this especially in attracting users Hence – currently a split focus

Likes	Dislikes/Improvements
	Market-Town !! No Market !! Did not work - stalls over priced 4 dots No free parking for visitors to Market
	Haslemere is a Market Town without a market. Why is this?
	Bed and breakfast accommodation has always been in short supply – e.g. for welcoming family guests for weddings – and its dwindling further. Tourism with no accommodation is a contradiction in terms
	Farmer’s Market 10 dots
	Try market again – it failed last time because the Water Board were digging up all the roads when it opened and local radio was telling people to stay away from the town. A very unlucky market opening
	Wine Bar / Bistro for casual dining; maybe even dancing! 6 dots Dancing generally (added comment)
	Do not allow any more charity shops 2 dots
	No‑one else can afford the rates (added comment)
	Food and Culture Fair – why not? Could do better than the Emsworth one! 6 dots
	Tesco’s is destroying local businesses! 3 dots
	Need more major retail in place of Fire Station and Telephone Exchange to promote a critical mass for the town 2 dots
	Business Rates and rents too high – will not encourage small shops / businesses 6 dots

Likes	Dislikes/Improvements
	Haslemere needs more high‑class shops – too many Estate Agents Betting shop – why, in a prime position Charter Walk? It’s because they’ll pay the rent! (added comment)
	Wine Bar / Casual Dining – somewhere to dance needed 4 dots
	Any new buildings should be in character
	Small business start‑up schemes Economic small business premises (not shops) Joint business and internet sites for small businesses, i.e. economic link and small page sites
	Better choice of clothes shops for both range, i.e. male, female and young and price
	Free parking is required in the town to promote business. Look what it has done for Tesco! 4 dots
	Opening hours of local shops are very old fashioned 1 dot
	Haslemere has two centres, Weyhill and High Street. What is the long‑term future for them? At present, Weyhill, despite traffic chaos, is the real centre. Can both survive or should emphasis be made on one only 1 dot
	Melanie Odell for Prime Minister 1 dot
	Post Office is a disgrace 6 dots
	Better marketing of Haslemere businesses – especially new and small businesses 1 dot

Likes	Dislikes/Improvements
	Town Hall should be open at least five days per week
	There should be active promotion of commercial and business development in the town to provide local employment for professional, skilled and semi / unskilled to reduce the excessive travelling to London and M25 area each day. Sites need to be identified and actively promoted – probably with easy access to A3 ! 2 dots

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