Tell us how to bounce back, say Standish businesses

Adam Marsh, who represents Standish on Wigan Council, hopes that business owners, store managers and traders will get together to create the organisation.

The initiative would discuss problems such as parking and investment in Standish and how businesses can bounce back from lockdown.

He has arranged a virtual meeting to discuss the initiative and anyone who runs a business in the area is invited.

Coun Marsh said: “The past year has been an incredibly hard year for businesses in Standish, and we’re not out of the woods yet with many still closed.

“On top of this there are also problems, such as the lack of parking and investment in the centre of Standish. Having said that, there are also opportunities coming down the pipeline.

“Several business owners have contacted me about getting together to create a group for Standish.

“This would be a group made up of and led by businesses and can be whatever you all would like it to be. However, I’m more than happy to offer whatever support is required to help set it up.”

Standish Voice, the village’s neighbourhood forum, has also voiced its support for a new organisation championing traders and businesses in Standish.

The residents’ group put on a number of events in the village, which are of benefit to businesses.

Paul Ogden, the vice-chairman of the group, who has been invited along as their representative for the new initiative, said the centre of Standish was in need of “major investment.”

He said: “We very much welcome Coun Marsh’s initiative to help businesses establish a group which will represent their interests in Standish.

“We will work constructively with any organisation which establishes itself.

“It is obviously a very tough time for businesses at the moment and this will continue after lockdown ends. Businesses need a strong voice to help them through this.

“But we are optimistic that there is a very bright future for businesses in Standish. During the pandemic the village centre continued to thrive with more new businesses opening up and a desire from residents to shop, eat and drink locally.

He added: “Our village centre needs major investment to improve it and make it more attractive to visit, and we need to ensure our trading estate on Bradley Lane continues to provide local jobs. So there are lots of initiatives we could work together on.”

Coun Marsh has written to businesses, but anyone who has not yet received an email can complete a form to get involved and sign up for a virtual meeting on February 18 at 7pm.

For more information and to find a link to the form, visit Standish Voice on Facebook.

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