The LEADER of Wiltshire Council has hit back after Greengages Cafe's call to action in its closing statement.

Greengages ceased trading on Friday, 26 August, due the combined storm that was Novichok, Covid, rising expenditure due to the invasion of Ukraine, and the cost of living crisis.

Read more: Greengages Cafe closes - read the director's final message

In his closing statement, director Richard Coleman called upon Wiltshire Council to "open their eyes and make extreme changes" otherwise "Salisbury will degrade to nothing".

Mr Coleman highlighted some of Salisbury's issues, which the council are responsible for, including "extortionate parking, scant tourist attractions, infrastructure that cannot maintain traffic levels" and a "non effective park & ride".

How Wiltshire Council responded

Councillor Richard Clewer, leader of Wiltshire Council, said: "It is always sad to hear news of the closure of a business.

"The cost of living crisis we now face however places a serious and significant pressure particularly on small businesses. 

"Energy prices for businesses are in places trebling and whilst government has acted so far to mitigate the effects of consumer energy prices for those most in need (and I have no doubt will do significantly more in the coming weeks to help all of us as prices go through the roof) there has not yet been support for businesses.

Cllr Clewer says the council has invested "£1 million a year" into the Towns Scheme, "significant investment" in Experience Salisbury, secured government funding for the Fisherton Gateway project and a "£27 million investment with the river park scheme".

"It is going to be critical for Government to help businesses, particularly in the hospitality sector where energy use is a significant proportion of business costs and I am lobbying MP’s and our two potential next prime ministers to take action. 

"Wiltshire Council is talking to our business community to make sure we have a clear understanding of the messages that central government need to hear."

Salisbury City councillor responds

Salisbury City Council were also named in Mr Coleman's final statement.

Councillor Annie Riddle, of Harnham West, said: "I was very sorry to hear of the closure of Greengages. If such a popular café struggled so hard, it can only be a matter of time before other independents follow.

"I wonder whether, if the government hadn’t allowed itself to be paralysed by a farcical leadership contest, it might have been able to get on and announce something by now to hold out real hope for small businesses with their fuel bills.

"I do understand, however, that this is far from the only problem facing our business community as it fights back from the double whammy of Novichok and Covid."

Sympathising with Mr Coleman's requests, Cllr Riddle added: "The changes he requests – to parking charges, ineffective park and ride, inadequate road network – are not within the remit of Salisbury’s City Council, sadly.

"I wish they were. These are matters for Trowbridge because we are lumbered with the unitary system. And Trowbridge has financial headaches of its own."

As a business owner, do you feel as though your voice is being heard by Wiltshire Council? Let us know by emailing newsdesk@salisburyjournal.co.uk.