A former Chamber of Trade chairman is urging Braintree Council to “give the people of Halstead what they deserve” and focus on revitalising the town.

Gas fitter Kerry Rogers, who led the town’s business leaders in the 1980s, feels he has seen the town steadily decline over the years and believes Halstead is dying due to the abundance of charity shops, cafés and hairdressers.

He is now urging district councillors to bring Halstead back to its glory days, when he felt that the town thrived and attracted tourists and shoppers from far and wide.

See this week's Halstead Gazette for the full story.