AFTER more than 50 years on the high street, one of the Halstead’s oldest businesses is bidding farewell.

Jewellers John Winter Drake has occupied a central High Street shop since 1965, but the owner is set to start enjoying his retirement after completing the sale of the site.

A lot has changed over the last 50 years with the High Street developing and Mr Drake fears he may be the last of a dying breed of long-standing independent business owners.

He said; “When I first opened up there was 120 shops, and the majority of those were independently run.

“A lot has changed since then, and not all positively.

“It is much more difficult for independent owners now, there are so many hoops to jump through, “I spend two hours-a-day filling in forms, mainly for the district council.

“We now have district councils rather than town councils, and with everything being done online, you have no-one to talk too and everything is drawn out.

“The independent business has almost been wiped out completely, and I think it will be in the next three or four years when it happens.

“This town is a prime example, look at Lidl opening down the road, they have had every bit of help possible from the district council.”

Mr Drake praised those running the remaining independent shops but criticised the focus of the councils which he claims is set firmly towards major names and brands rather than diversity and independence.

Mr Drake will close the jewellers on August 26, after opening the business alongside his father and brother 52 years ago.

After living above the shop the whole time, it is set to be the first time he spends more than a week away from Halstead’s High Street.

He added: “It will be sad to go, obviously I’ve spent a huge amount of my life here. Really, I just want to say thank you to everyone in Halstead, it is a marvellous community full of marvellous people. I have been supported by this community, and I am regretting having to leave, but it is my time to go.”

A closing down sale is being held until next Saturday.