Boost to business owners from George Osborne
Tatton MP George Osborne last week told business owners that the promotion of Knutsford's assets was the key to the town centre's survival.
The Shadow Chancellor said people had missed opportunities in the past, such as links with the BBC's adaptation of Cranford. But he believes residents, traders and officials are now getting better at coming together to advertise what the area has to offer.
"Knutsford has so many great things to shout about," he told a meeting of Network Knutsford on Friday. "It's one of the loveliest towns in the country. I think there's a fairly unique retail experience here as well."
Mr Osborne told the meeting that the town had previously failed to capitalise fully on its links to Cranford. He said the BBC's award-winning television adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell's thinly-veiled story about Knutsford could have been used to attract more tourists.
"There are things that the town could have done more with," he said. "Perhaps we could have done more if we'd thought ahead a bit about it."
Network Knutsford organised the one-off meeting on Friday so Mr Osborne could be the guest speaker. Business owners were invited to attend the event at Leicester Warren Hall in Bexton Lane to ask the Shadow Chancellor questions about local and national issues.
Mr Osborne began by speaking about his work as a constituency MP. He said the town had recently come together to hold events such as the Floral Walk during the RHS Flower Show at Tatton Park. "The town is better at doing that than it was a few years ago," he said.
Mr Osborne also spoke about national issues and the Conservative Party's plans. Then company owners asked him questions on topics including graduate unemployment, national debt and business red tape.
Marco Dellapina, co-founder of Network Knutsford and managing partner of Dellapina & Co. Solicitors, chaired the event.
During the meeting Via Via in Regent Street provided guests with a buffet and saxophonist Rosemary Quaye entertained the crowd.
Network Knutsford usually meets at Via Via on the third Thursday of every month. For more information on tickets call 01565 634 100 or visit www.network-knutsford.com
Source: Knutsford Guardian
