OUR local business are the heart of our communities.

Not only do they provide goods we want to buy and services we need, but they are also the focus of community life, bringing together residents from all over the area – albeit socially distanced at the moment.

Heart of Haslemere and of Hindhead, and of Beacon Hill and of Weyhill, was something dreamt up by Haslemere Town Council, local businesspeople, the Chamber of Commerce and Lana Kelsey.

Whether a business is successful or not is down to the talent, luck and skill of the business owner and its customers.

But the town council thought it was important to do everything it could to create an environment and atmosphere that encourages shoppers to come back to our businesses after lockdown and help put vitality back into our commercial centres.

The council organised a budget to take a series of steps, like putting up banners, creating the Traders’ Directory in this paper, interviewing lots of businesses to find out their plans, refreshing the centres by physically painting bollards at unearthly hours of the morning – to let the paint dry before customers arrived – and doing weeding as well as other ideas that will roll out in the coming weeks.

Watch for the #HeartofHaslemere – Back in Business hashtag and support our traders in Hindhead, Haslemere, Beacon Hill and Wey Hill!