"It's a really pretty town that needs a bit of oomph, it's got a little tatty," says Claire North, owner of Dinky Dove, a lifestyle store in Chertsey . Her words echo the sentiment of many shop owners and residents in this historic Surrey market town. Nestled along the River Thames and boasting centuries of heritage, Chertsey should be a bustling destination.
It has an attractive location, good connectivity to the City and close proximity to Heathrow airport , Instead, it finds itself at a crossroads, grappling with declining footfall and a struggle to maintain its vibrancy. As banks close their doors and offices transform into flats, local businesses are left pondering how to breathe new life into a town that, as one resident puts it, has "soo much potential." - potential which it might suite harness.
READ MORE: Fears 'overbearing' plans for 126 homes near train station will damage views from Surrey beauty spot Man arrested after reports of cat being stolen in Chertsey A proposed regeneration of the town set out by Runnymede Borough Council could reinvigorate business opportunities, and improve the overall outlook of the town. With government grants to revamp shopfronts, the high street could start to look much brighter. In 2023, the town was also awarded £1 million by the government, to go towards regeneration.
SurreyLive spoke to those who work in Chertsey, to see what they think could be done to breathe new life into the town. Since three banks closed in Chertsey during .