It appears there is growing concern about the lack of retail business in the town and the question is being asked: "What can be done to entice shoppers back?"

Many people have also mentioned what a wonderful place Clitheroe is to shop in. Well sorry folks – and it pains me to say it – but in all my 50 years of living here all I have seen of Clitheroe is just another run-of-the-mill former cotton town with nothing special to entice people to shop here time after time.

We have only a few minor attractions of note, the main one being the Castle Keep on top of a hill, plus a few nice Georgian buildings and that's about it. Let's be honest with ourselves, Clitheroe is one heck of a mismatched town, with very little to keep people here longer than a few hours and then wanting to come back again next week.

Would you travel 10 to 15 miles each week to look around the shops that we have and have an expensive coffee or snack? That is, of course, if you can find a parking space in which you won't have to keep checking your watch every five minutes, because if you go over the allotted time the warden will pounce and you will face a hefty fine.

Clitheroe town is, if you look at it objectively, not the best place to do your shopping. There are many obstacles the incomer has to overcome. The first is parking – what a mess we have, with parking spots all over the place. You can drive around the area for ages looking for a space, especially if you want a free one, then you have shops all spread out on the streets, many of which are hills.

When you do begin to shop, the goods are often more expensive than other shopping areas elsewhere ... and keep watching the clock, you can't afford to run out of time!

I could go on about other obstacles keeping the shoppers away, but my space, like the shoppers' time, is limited. What can be done to improve the situation? It's a bigger problem than most people think and needs a full consultation involving everyone in the town, not just leaving it to the interested few.

Suggestions I would put forward are: First – a multi-storey car park at Barrow print works with a regular free shuttle bus service into town.
Second – a significant reduction in rents and rates for the shops. One newly revamped shop is available to rent at £16,000 a year, add the rates and this means whoever takes it on needs to take £500 a week just to cover these two costs alone.

There are many more suggestions worthy of an airing, so let's hear from you all.