OPINION: Dingwall businesses can take advantage of opportunities presented by supermarkets

THE Royal Burgh of Dingwall’s long and fascinating history and former status as Ross & Cromarty’s county town might set the scene, but in today’s ever-changing and highly competitive world, having an illustrious past does not guarantee a successful future. What matters is Dingwall’s relevance to people today and tomorrow – locals and visitors alike.

Add Dingwall’s supermarkets to the ability of residents to shop online and visit Inverness as necessary, and it could be argued that the town can get by perfectly happily without a strong high street. Wrong!

SEE: Rallying call over Dingwall's empty High Street premises

Visitor to county town struck by decline in fortunes

Successful towns are great places to live, work and play, and their centres – their high streets – are their beating hearts: places where people do business, of course, but also places where they socialise, perhaps in the street or more formally while enjoying food or drink out or cultural events. High streets bind communities together and they really matter.

So, what can Dingwall do to boost the vibrancy of its high street? Well, it’s not for me to say, but here are some questions based on the premise that while Tesco and Lidl out compete many traditional high street shops, they also create opportunities as well as threats.

How many people from the West Coast and Dingwall’s wide hinterland, and how many holidaymakers, visit Dingwall solely to shop at Tesco? And how many of these could be persuaded to visit the High Street afterwards? Do local businesses provide irresistible reasons why supermarket shoppers should also visit them? And is the close proximity of the High Street and what it contains made clear to shoppers in the Tesco car park?

Do businesses work together to make the town centre as attractive as possible and to look after people who visit, and do they promote Dingwall as a town worth visiting strongly enough?

Clearly, the exciting idea of giving Dingwall a theme, as happens in Kirkcudbright and Wigtown, raises the discussion to a whole new level. Surely an effective theme must be one that draws people from far and wide, and that keeps drawing them back on repeat visits? Can themes be created from ideas alone, or are they best based on things that already exist, e.g. the presence of active artists in Kirkcudbright or bookshops in Wigtown?

Many more questions than answers, but the local debate must continue. Doing nothing should not be an option if Dingwall’s beating heart is to thrive.

David Richardson is development manager – Highlands and Islands for the Federation of Small Businesses.

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.