TRADERS in Petersfield look set to lose their only voice in the town with the news that the organisation that represents them is in danger of collapse.

Officers who run Petersfield First have this week issued traders with an ultimatum: Stand up and be counted by Monday, October 22 or we close the group.

In a direct appeal to all members, the chairman, Trevor Boyden, warned them: ÒIt would be wrong of me not to make it abundantly clear to you that the future of Petersfield First is now in crisis in view of the imminent departure of three committee members.Ó

He said the group now needed five new members to offer themselves to serve on the committee.

ÒUnless this happens it is inevitable that the organisation will have to fold.Ó

He said a special meeting was being planned for next month to pass a resolution closing down the association and 21 daysÕ notice had to be given of the date.

ÒTherefore, for the committee to be able to act otherwise, it will be necessary for new members, who are prepared to stand and work on the committee, to contact me no later than Monday, October 22.Ó

Mr Boyden said the committee deeply regretted that it had had to take the drastic measures but it could see no other way.

ÒWe are, of course, deeply concerned at the possible demise of the only business organisation left which can represent the business and trading interests in Petersfield,Ó he said.

He suspected that most members had no real idea of the amount of work carried out on their behalf.

The arrival of Tesco in Petersfield had generated Òstrenuous lobbyingÓ by Petersfield First, said Mr Boyden.

ÒIt would have a much more serious impact on local traders when they actually open without our past lobbying, and further battles are anticipated,Ó he warned.

He added that the proposed road improvements to the town looked set to cause huge disruption to traders.

ÒUnless our association is available to monitor and lobby over this, the effect on the traders could be disastrous,Ó claimed Mr Boyden.

The thorny parking problem in the town had also been addressed by the committee.

ÒWe spent a great deal of time and effort in tackling East Hampshire District Council on this issue and it was as a direct result of this lobbying that the recent increases in parking ticket charges were limited to what they were.Ó

Considerable financial contributions had also been made to Christmas lights and Petersfield in Bloom by the tradersÕ organisation to help promote the town.

ÒAt the present time there is considerable doubt as to whether Christmas lights will be able to continue in future years. Again, without our involvement, I personally rate the chances of the Christmas lightsÕ survival to be somewhat slim,Ó warned Mr Boyden.

Nearly all the present committee had served since its formation and were also longstanding committee members of the previous trade organisations, he said.

ÒThree very active members of the committee, including myself, have now intimated that for personal and family reasons they can no longer continue to devote the time and considerable effort required for the various activities involved with the committee and they are having to leave by the end of this year.Ó

He told The Herald: ÒItÕs a sign of our times that people want to do less and less and we just have not got the people who are prepared to run these groups.Ó

The Chamber of Trade and the Petersfield RetailersÕ and BusinessmenÕs Association merged to form Petersfield First several years ago. Each group then had around 80 members.

But with more national companies operating in the town and small businesses becoming Òleaner and meanerÓ in terms of staff, membership had dwindled.