Open letter by Cllr Will Sandry:

The Moorland Road shopping area has 65 shop units; there are a few people who are worried that Moorland Road is doomed now we have six charity shops– they’re wrong!

Moorland Road continues to thrive and has done so throughout the recession. With a current shop vacancy rate of 6% – half the national rate – we have no fewer than 20 excellent independent shops including butcher, barbers, bookshop, bathrooms, beauty, cupcakes, carpets, curtains, cards and chemist.

Moorland Road’s also got a pub, two banks and two bookmakers, three cafes, a curry house, five hairdressers, the largest co-op supermarket in Bath, Polish and Mediterranean mini marts and for takeaway food there’s a chip shop and two Chinese options.

You’ll also find DIY, fireplaces, greeting cards, gifts, glaziers, health food, library, pets and vets, an optician and newsagent.

The Doom Sayers proclaimed the end of Moorland Road when Woolworths changed to Sainsbury’s Local, but that change improved the street. Sainsbury’s gave the other chains competition and instead of being open 8am -8pm all convenience stores are open from 7am – 11pm. This means that now the Post Office has moved in to McColls, 95% of Post Office services are available from the McColls retail counter from 7am; and after the Post Office closes at 5:30pm until 11pm every day of the week.

With free parking on Moorland Road and the surrounding streets it’s not surprising that Moorland Road is not only amazing, but also the heart of the south of Bath.