BRIDGWATER’S independent traders are gearing up for the town’s first Love Your High Street.

Love Your High Street is a campaign which encourages people to shop on their local high streets and helps spread the message about why spending locally is so important.

It is running from Monday, July 16 through to Friday, July 20 and will have special marketing packs available for all independent traders and businesses.

The free marketing packs will include resources to help high street businesses in areas such as social media and marketing, and have promotional materials including bags and balloons to help each business celebrate the campaign.

Sharron Wensley, owner of Pumpkins Craft & Puzzle Shop, said: “This kind of initiative is a fantastic idea for the independent businesses of Bridgwater High Street.

“It’s simple to do and really captures the spirit of why people should shop locally. There are some fantastic independent businesses in Bridgwater and I hope they all get involved.”

Sasha Lithgow, from Court Street Interiors, added: “I back any campaign that gets people into the High Street.

“I think it is good for people to get out to the local independent traders, meet the people in the community, have a poke about.

“You can find some fantastic hidden gems.”

Bridgwater Chamber of Commerce is also backing the campaign.

Steve Leahy, chairman, said: "The Bridgwater Chamber welcomes any project designed to give independant traders the opportunity to demonstrate their value to the local economy. 

"In these times of out of town shopping centres, the independant traders of most towns across the UK struggle to see the size of footfall needed to progress their businesses.

"Therefore it is essential that initiatives such as "Love your High Street" are devised and supported.

"However this will only work if the high street businesses themselves show total support and embrace this action.

"Bridgwater has seen and will see massive growth and it is important we keep some of the wealth from this growth within our town centre, and encourages all to support their local traders, to enable them to survive and grow."

If you’re an independent high street business in Bridgwater and you would like a marketing pack or more information go to somerset-enterprise-centres.co.uk/lyhs.

The campaign is being delivered by TDA Business as a part of the ERDF Growth Support Project.