Shoppers are spending money elsewhere

By jnuttall

SHOPPERS in East Grinstead are spending just five per cent of their money in the town, a survey has revealed.

Residents in the town have £120 million per year to spend, but shoppers choose to take their money elsewhere.

The survey shows the average shopper spends three times as much money in Crawley and Tunbridge Wells as they do in their own town.

In response to these figures the Courier and Observer today launches a campaign running alongside the new town mayor's efforts to Keep it Local.

The survey was commissioned by Thornfield Properties who plan to redevelop the town centre.

The surprising figures were revealed last Thursday during the East Grinstead Business Association business exhibition.

Thornfield's development director Mark Imms explained that market researchers Caci had worked out the figures following extensive research across the town.

Mr Imms said: "East Grinstead has an available spend of £120 million from catchment for goods, including fashion, lifestyle, bookshops, records, but just five per cent of that is spent in the town."

The research showed shoppers take their money further afield, spending 17.2 per cent in Tunbridge Wells and 16.2 per cent in Crawley.

In a bid to buck this spending trend town traders are planning on launching a loyalty card, as announced in last week's Courier and Observer, to encourage shoppers to come back into the town.