THE row over the impact on trade in Ludlow of the Ludlow 10k has escalated.

A long queue of Ludlow business owners has formed to refute claims by resident Juliet Diamond that the evening event resulted in a loss of trade.

But Ms Diamond has maintained that she did undertake a survey although she did not always speak to the owners of the business.

The row has also resulted in Andy Boddington, Shropshire Councillor for Ludlow North, slamming what he describes as a small number of people for being out of touch with the needs of the town.

"There are a small number of residents that oppose any events in the town centre,” said Andy Boddington.

“They have little recognition that you have to work hard to keep a town centre like Ludlow alive. If they want a choice about where to eat and drink, and where to shop, we need events throughout the year.

"Ludlow10 was great for Ludlow.

“I only had one complaint from a resident and none from traders.”

A group of Ludlow business owners: Cedric Bosi, of the Church Inn and Charlton Arms, Gary Seymour of The Rose and Crown, Adam Tutt of the Blue Boar and Chnag Thai Bar and Restaurant, Jane Vaughan of the Queens and Wayne Smith of Mortimers Restaurant have come together to express their support for the Ludlow 10k that took place on the evening on Saturday, July 8.

"We were surprised and concerned to read the article on the front page of the Ludlow Advertiser on July 27.

“The article and headline suggested that businesses in Ludlow Town Council had suffered during the Ludlow10 race that evening.

“We do not understand where Juliet Diamond, the main source for the article, got her information from. We are the proprietors of six pubs and restaurants in the centre of Ludlow. We know that our trade on that evening was as good as usual and for some of us, rather better.

“The Ludlow10 race created a tremendous atmosphere in the town. It drew in more than 300 runners, along with hundreds more supporters and well-wishers. Our town centre streets are often quiet in the evening. On that Saturday, they were buzzing.

“We were not involved in any survey that Ms Diamond conducted. We do not know who she represents. But we do know that events like Ludlow10 promote our town and bring people into Ludlow who spend money.

“If the residents of Ludlow want a town where they have a choice of where to eat and drink, and where people have jobs, we need to attract visitors.

“There were some minor difficulties in the planning and running of Ludlow10. Lessons will have been learnt. We would welcome the race back next year. Events like this are good for our town."

Speaking at Ludlow Town Council, Tim Gill, Mayor of Ludlow, said that the claims that the event had damaged trade were not supported by what he had been told.

He said that he supported the event which was good for Ludlow but added that some mistakes had been made.

But local resident Joyce Brand, who spoke at the town council meeting, criticised the fact that the town centre had been closed for part of a Saturday evening in the interests of a ‘commercial venture'.