June 12, 2002

AROUND a dozen disgruntled retailers met last week to launch the new Retail Business Community - a pressure group aimed at giving shopkeepers a voice loud enough to be heard.

The group has been launched by Robert Ryan of Ryan’s Pet Shop in Dumbarton is response to the proposed traffic management scheme for the town centre which appears to

ignore the results of a consultation carried out some time ago.

The group are also concerned about the delays in progressing the Vico plans for the town centre and there are fears that only parts of the Town Centre Action Plan may be implemented.

Mr Ryan told the members that there had been many instances of town centre traffic management plans which had had dire effects for the town centres affected and he said that while he did not know what the answer was it was his duty to protect his business and the jobs of his staff.

He found support from Wendy Hutchinson of the Dumbarton East and Central Community Council who said that her council was totally against the proposals to restrict use of the High Street to buses and taxis during the day.

She invited the members to attend the council’s AGM and said that the council needs to know what the community at large wants reporting that disabled groups are “up in arms” about the traffic management plan.