An independent Arbroath retailer has urged residents in the town to be more upbeat about the town’s High Street.
Arbroath has seen a series of shop closures during the last month, with Abbey Music, Semi Chem and Scottish Hydro Electric shop all closing their doors.
The Corner House Deli recently shut and the retailer Habbit, which has gone into administration, has an uncertain future in the town.
However, Louise McGivney, owner of girls’ clothes shop Sara-Lou, has urged people in the town to stop the ”doom and gloom” and take pride in their High Street.
She said that since she opened Sara-Lou a year ago her expectations for the store have been surpassed.
”I’ve had a lot of support from a great many people in the town and from people throughout Angus,” she said. ”I’m now getting a steady flow of return customers from Angus and further afield coming to my shop. It’s been fantastic.
”I think people can get too negative about the future of Arbroath High Street. We are no different from any other small town going through the recession.
”The people who travel to my shop say Arbroath is full of hidden gems. People come to our town for the history, the seaside, the picturesque harbour as well as some lovely eating places.
”Then there’s attractions like Kerr’s Miniature Railway and Jumping Joeys and some fantastic speciality independent shops. I think the future of the High Street is very bright and expect the shops that are becoming vacant to be filled quickly.”
The council will soon embark on several improvements to appeal to summer season tourists. It will spend £3,000 on removing and thinning shrubbery on Burnside Drive as well as removing litter that has accumulated there.
A further £5,000 will be spent on artificial hanging baskets for West Links, West Port, Millgate, High Street and Keptie Street.
Another £7,000 has been allocated for five ‘interpretation’ boards in the town to inform tourists where they are and where attractions lie.
There are also plans to replace or repair 38 existing public seats at the High Street, Kirk Square, Danger Point, the harbour visitor centre, Guthrie Port and Ogilvy place.