[Will]

It's my belief that the town council or the district council (not sure who's most responsible), is only interested in turning Stratford into a milking machine. All we ever hear about is how the council wants a 'World Class Stratford' for visitors, while locals are extorted with parking meters under the guise of 'traffic calming measures'. Independent shops rarely last longer than a year in Stratford, unable to afford Stratford's rental prices, or just not able to get the customers (many claim a slump since the meters were put in). So we have almost nothing but chain stores and tourist gift shops in Stratford, making for a completely uninspiring shopping experience in Stratford.

It's night life is unexciting, moving from 'one 'trying to be trendy' bar to several exact clones, late night life is a joke. I often compare Stratford to Leamington Spa, which in regards to shopping and night life seems to be a hundred times richer. There also seems to be a far richer culture in Leamington, if Stratford didn't have Shakespeare, I believe it would be almost completely culturally inert.

Isn't it about time the council did something for the locals? Instead of trying to find more ways to attract tourists, how about getting behind local businesses, non-Shakespearian culture, and making it a happening place to be. Look at the way Birmingham has turned itself around, can't we do the same?

I do think Stratford might be heading down the independent candidate line, trouble is I can see some real fuddy-duddy getting in who will only hold STratford back even more.

Stratford Upon Avon desperately needs change, but at the moment, all the wrong changes are being made.