Those who feel Leighton’s High Street will be destroyed by the imminent out-of-town retail park have spoken out against the fight between developers plans and maintaining community spirit.
Tom Shattock, owner of TK Furniture, said: “We have a wonderful community feeling here in Leighton Buzzard, but the community is being ignored. The town is a victim of a system that is built on money rather than on community.
“In any case we will continue to fight on with these issues as we can’t have a system where the community is being ignored as is happening in this case.
“No-one has been considered. They are just going off on their own whim.”
Lucy Schultz, manager of Cee-Jay, Hockliffe Street, said: “Leighton Buzzard is at present a town with a thriving high street.
“Though it is tough out there for every business, it seems that the majority of high street stores are surviving at least.
“Two years after the retail parks are opened, Leighton Buzzard high street will be floundering – stores closed and customers diverted to the glossy new retail parks. Unfortunately, money talks.”
Paul Johnson, of Address 72, says there will be no way to undo any damage that will be caused by the retail parks: “The idea that an out of town centre retail park will automatically generate more employment opportunities is nonsensical.
“The employment opportunities created will be at the cost of jobs already existing in the town centre.”