It's boom not gloom, say Stalham traders
By RICHARD BATSONrichard.batson@archant.co.ukA business chief at Stalham has hit back at doom-mongers who say the town has been killed off by its Tesco store.
By RICHARD BATSON
richard.batson@archant.co.uk
A business chief at Stalham has hit back at doom-mongers who say the town has been killed off by its Tesco store.
The supermarket giant's revised plans to double the size of its local store has reignited the heated debate over what impact Tesco is having on the town.
Opponents have predicted more gloom for a town centre they claim was mortally wounded by the original store.
But others are more upbeat and this week Roy Woolsey, chairman of the business group of the Stalham with Happing regeneration partnership, said the high street was fighting back and looked the healthiest it had been for years.
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Mark Twain's famous quote “Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated” could well apply to the town, said Mr Woolsey, who is also a retail landlord at Stalham's Archway shopping centre.
“Since Tesco arrived on the edge of town the retail landscape has changed somewhat and we have had a period of change and adjustment, but the High Street is fighting back,” he added.
The “dodo or Phoenix” debate as News columnist Alex Hurrell recently
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