Shoppers urged to shop local this Christmas

WITH Christmas fast approaching, local residents are being reminded that there are plenty of great Christmas gift ideas you can pick up in Melksham.

Mayor Terri Welch is encouraging people to shop locally in the run up to Christmas and help keep the town alive.

Cllr Welch said, “It is really important to support our local shops. We have a small but growing town with a wealth of superb businesses. Our supermarkets are excellent and we have some lovely jewellers and gift shops and also have quite a few shops that sell brilliant pre-loved second hand items that make unique gift ideas.

“We need to use our shops in order to keep them because they are part of Melksham’s vibrant community.

“Why not go into the town and discover what it has to offer. Pop into a shop which you perhaps have never been into before; I’m sure you will be amazed at what you can find.”

Colin Harrison, from Melksham Chamber of Commerce said, “Melksham’s been lucky to have fewer empty shops than some of other Wiltshire towns.

“But retail businesses in the town centre and surrounding area can only survive if the local community supports them.

“That support, by shopping locally whenever you can, is not only good for the existing shops, it also helps to attract new businesses to the town, creating a thriving town centre and benefits the whole community.”