A NORTHWICH councillor has called for residents to support small businesses in the town centre to ensure that they can thrive.

Sam Naylor, Witton councillor for both Northwich Town and Cheshire West and Chester councils, made the comments following an open letter to residents by the owners of Kanya Bistro.

The High Street eatery gave an impassioned appeal to the Northwich community to shop local and support small businesses, after reporting sales being down on previous years.

And this appeal has been backed by Cllr Naylor, who wants people to take advantage of the great shops, restaurants and entertainment venues that the town has to offer.

“I feel for Kanya and all other Northwich businesses who are feeling the pinch, particularly at this time of the year when optimism and trade should be on the up,” he said.

“Footfall for the year is up, but there is no doubt that the bottom end of town was hit hard by the floods.

“The road works that nobody wanted on London Road have also impacted negatively.

“The most important thing we can all do is to support our town and shop local.

“Come on in and take a close look at what Northwich can offer - it is a great place to shop, to be entertained in and to eat and drink in.”

In their letter, Kanya owners also stated that more emphasis is placed on the ‘more noticeable’ Barons Quay rather than the bottom end of High Street, which they say receives ‘considerably less attention’.

But Cllr Naylor has said that councillors and business owners will work together to ensure that all areas of the town centre are given the opportunity to flourish.

“Kanya is a great venue and l have had meetings there with local shop owners in my role as Northwich Regeneration Forum chair and Northwich BID board member,” he continued.

“These shop owners all know the challenges that the traditional High Street faces, but they are determined to adapt and survive.

“We all work together alongside with Northwich Town Council and Cheshire West and Chester Council to do everything we can to make the town a success and a ‘go to destination’.

“Barons Quay is coming along and Weaver Square, although still in the blueprint stage, will eventually be a massive and integral asset.

“This town wins awards and is in the running for more accolades, so collectively, we will work together to ensure all areas of our fantastic town thrive.”