Schoolchildren tell councillors how to improve fortunes (From Salisbury Journal)

Schoolchildren tell councillors how to improve fortunes

10:00am Friday 20th July 2012 in News By Karen Bate

CHILDREN from Ringwood Junior School attended the town council's planning meeting on Friday to give their views on boosting the town's economy.

The group of 14 Year 6 pupils, accompanied by teacher Alex Marriott and deputy headteacher Judi Goding, impressed members of the planning, town and environment committee with their suggestions on how to improve the fortunes of the town after seeing several shops close down over the last year.

Lucy Clayton said: “I think there should be shops for people of all ages in Ringwood, with different price ranges so lots of people can afford them. Game shops and music shops are just some examples that appeal to younger people.”

Elena Stain said: “If the shops in the High Street had lower rents then they wouldn't have to close down.”

And Matthew Taylor added: “If the rents were lowered then maybe shopkeepers and landlords could agree to share the profit.”

Thomas Holmes said: “If there were a greater variety of shops, especially clothes shops, then people wouldn't have to travel to Castlepoint.”

Kieran Murdoch said: “I think we should get bigger shops like Marks & Spencer into the town as it would attract more visitors.”

Chairman of the committee Mark Steele said: “I am very impressed by these young people, who put forward their views very succinctly. Well done.

“I think we should put these suggestions forward to the full council.”

Mrs Marriott said: “Our visit today was part of our geography and literature curriculum.

“We walked around the town recently and the children noticed several empty shops. So the classes over the year group wrote letters to the council on how the situation might be improved.

“I think the pupils did very well to speak so eloquently in public. To raise issues with the council helps gives them a sense of empowerment.”