Steadily declining trade in Rugby town centre...

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Rugby's leading business and political figures have a clear message on the state of the town centre - there’s only so much they can do.



Rugby Borough Council leader Craig Humphrey and Rugby First managing director Robin Richter say they are doing all they can to attract new businesses.

But they warn they don’t have the sweeping powers some Rugbeians seem to think they have.

Responding to a barrage of criticism from readers in last week’s Advertiser, Mr Richter said: “We don’t own any shops.

“If a landlord wants to sell his shop to a pawnbroker or a charity shop there’s nothing we can do about it – we have no control over it.

“Neither do we have any control over rates. Business rates is a national issue - virtually all the revenue goes to the Exchequer.

“And we don’t have any control over the level of rent that’s set for the shops.”

He added: “We can talk to people and try to influence them, but we have no control over them.”

Most empty properties are owned by big institutions like banks and pension funds.

The aftermath of the credit crunch has made things more complex still. For instance the former Next premises are owned by the Irish state.

And the complex methods used to calculate the worth of their assets mean these organisations sometimes have no incentive to fill their empty properties.

Mr Richter says Rugby First, the company that manages services and promotes the town centre, is doing what it can.

Its leaders are in regular contact with traders thinking of coming to Rugby

And it will shortly announce a new initiative with local landlords to offer new businesses free rent and other financial support.

Mr Richter said: “We all feel the most realistic way forward is to ‘grow our own’ – people who are going to take a chance in retail premises for the first time.”

The switch to online shopping means town centres will probably evolve into places of leisure and entertainment with fewer shops. TV expert Mary Portas predicted as much in her recent report for the Government.

Mr Richter said: “The picture has changed and it’s changed for good. Only a few years ago one per cent of shopping was done online. Now it’s 12 per cent and still growing fast.

“If that continues it won’t just be towns like Rugby that are worried but places like Birmingham and Manchester.

Cllr Humphrey, Conservative leader of Rugby Borough Council, agrees.

“Retail is changing. You can buy clothes or books over the internet, but you can’t drink coffee over the internet,” he said.

“We have a retail strategy in Rugby and we want things like quality independent retailers and a cafe society.”

Cllr Humphrey called criticism of parking charges in Rugby town centre “a red herring”.

The council has produced figures showing parking for up to five hours is cheaper in Rugby than anywhere else in Warwickshire.

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Club snookered after 74 years in High Street

“CRIPPLING” rent and utility costs are the reasons behind the closure of Rugby Snooker Club after 74 years.

Formerly known as Rugby Billiard Club, it was located above retailers Burtons in High Street and has been home to Rugby’s elite snooker players for decades. The club’s former owner, Colin Peake, who ploughed tens of thousands of pounds into the club, died late last year, making the club’s financial future even more uncertain.

Tina and Andy Brough took over the day-to-day running of the club as Mr Peake’s health deteriorated. Andy was a member of the club for 25 years and owner of the club’s academy, which worked with Rugby youngsters.

He said: “The club’s closure is a sad reflection on Rugby’s dramatic decline in town centre trade. Every other shop in our High Street is empty and our business just doesn’t attract people any more.

“The huge supermarket chains have taken over and the internet boom means people, especially youngsters, just don’t spend as much time on games like snooker any more.”

Mark Wakelin, a member of the club since he was a child, said: “Myself and other members are gutted. My father played there, I played there and my son has also played there but now it’s all gone.

“One of my fondest childhood memories is of watching Willie Thorne and Rex Williams play there when I was eight, but now the place is gone forever.”

He added: “It’s a sign of the times - snooker is dying out because younger people are more interested in playing video games.”

If anyone has cues or other belongings in the club, they can contact Ant on 07742 825191.