Is Stratford Scruffier Than Nuneaton?

A leader of a Warwickshire town has joined in the debate that Stratford-upon-Avon could be scruffier than Nuneaton.

And Stratford’s chief executive and business leaders have issued the challenge: “Tell us what is wrong, and we will try to put it right”.
A debate was sparked a week ago when the Stratford Herald reported comments made by Stratford jeweller Patricia Whitehouse.

Mrs Whitehouse, manager of Shipton and Co Jewellers, in Sheep Street, organised and led a meeting of Stratford retailers last Tuesday. They raised concerns about the town to Stratford District Council’s chief executive Paul Lankester.

Mrs Whitehouse launched a petition earlier this year about loss of trade, empty shops, parking and litter.

While addressing Mr Lankester and fellow retailers, Mrs Whitehouse said she heard Stratford being compared to Nuneaton through a local radio station, and she said the presenter claimed Nuneaton was coming off better.

The leader of Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council joined the debate, by saying it was “very nice” that people wished to compare Stratford to Nuneaton.

Leader of the borough council, Cllr Dennis Harvey (Lab, Camp Hill), said: “Stratford is the tourist centre of Warwickshire and I do not want to run down Stratford. It is very nice that people wish to compare to Nuneaton to Stratford.

“Stratford is a completely different town to Nuneaton. We [Nuneaton] are the biggest town in Warwickshire, but Stratford has a lot more visitors and has got a lot more customers in that way.”

Cllr Harvey explained it was difficult to compare Nuneaton to Stratford. According to figures from the 2001 Census, Nuneaton has a population of 70,721, Bedworth has a population of 32,268, and Stratford has 23,676.