Heywood man calls for an end to 'Shutter Town'

Harry Boota with Heywood North Councillor Peter Rush, New Deal Resident Director Malcolm Bruce and local shop owner Ian Beadows of 'Beadows furniture' - outside Mr Boota's old shop, the new owners have kept the shutters down

Heywood resident Harry Boota has called on the shopkeepers of Heywood Town Centre to open their shop shutters in the morning and put a stop to our area becoming a 'shutter town.' Harry Boota, who himself use to own a shop in the town centre in the late 1990's, will be writing a letter to all the shop keepers along the main road to politely ask them to open up their shutters in the morning.

Mr Boota said: "When I look at how many shops have their shutters down during the day in our town centre it really disappoints me. It isn't a great advertisement for our area to passing traffic. We have a great town centre here in Heywood with some fantastic shops. I want to give a more positive image to the people who may not know our area and a town centre full of shops with their shutters down doesn't do that. I know how much work and money New Deal have put into renovating our town centre and I think it's a shame that so many shops are not showing off this new investment."

"I know a lot of the shops that I am referring to are take-aways that do not open until later on in the evening. However, I think that by opening their shutters in the morning they will be at least advertising their own business whilst making our area look more attractive and welcoming. I use to own my own business in the town centre and I would open my shutters every morning. Its makes good business sense."

Councillor for Heywood North Peter Rush said: "I think that this is a great campaign that Harry has come up with. I have spoken to many of the shop owners in the town centre and they agree with what Harry is trying to do. He wants to make our area look more attractive which will bring more business to our town centre."