It won’t have escaped many people’s notice that Debenhams opened a new shop in our town centre this week. While extending our shopping centre and making improvements to our town centre has caused some disruption, I am pleased that businesses are choosing to invest in our town centre.

Across the country, high streets are struggling. Many people are now shopping online and fewer people are visiting their local high street. In Watford, I’m proud to be a Mayor of a town that is bucking that trend.

As well as Debenhams, in the coming weeks Jack Wills, Superdry as well as Holywood Bowl and of course the much anticipated IMAX cinema will be opening. This will give a big injection into our local economy and provide hundreds of jobs for our town. As people’s shopping habits change, it is important that businesses respond to that. It is so important that town centres offer people more than shops. Debenhams see their new store in Watford as a flagship and they will be focusing on making it an enjoyable experience for every customer. We will soon have a cinema, bowling alley and in the last few weeks a new climbing wall was opened too, which is already proving very popular.

None of these major investments in the town came about by accident. They are the result of tough decisions and local leadership. Making changes to Charter Place led to criticism from opposition groups and from some in this paper. However, this was the right thing to do. It has allowed intu to build this fantastic new extension and bring jobs to Watford. This extension would not have been possible without the decisions made by Dorothy Thornhill many years ago. As Mayor you often have to take tough decisions for the long term benefit of the town.

At the same time we are completing major improvements to High Street so it is more attractive and easy to get around for pedestrians and cyclists. It is so important that our shopping centre is part of the high street and that visitors are encouraged to visit other businesses to shop or eat.

I’m delighted that Debenhams has opened and that other stores will be joining them soon. I’ll certainly make sure to go and visit with my family. I hope you will be too.

  • Peter Taylor is Elected Mayor of Watford