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A disappointed butcher has slammed the current conditions for small businesses in Ashford town centre as he prepares to close for good on Saturday.
Tony Killingbeck, of TK Meats, says after two-and-a-half years in the high street he simply can’t afford to keep running his business.
Ashford council says it works hard to support existing businesses in the town centre, but Mr Killingbeck says not enough is being done.
“The first year the shop paid its way, but the last 18 months I’ve had to pay out-of-pocket to keep it open,” he said.
“When you open a small business, you get such a small slice of the big cake that is the town centre.
“The problem is the rents are high, electricity costs far too much, you’ve got water bills, pest control to maintain and insurances.
“Parking is disgraceful here - I park in Vicarage Lane and it costs me £11 a day.
“If you open five days that’s £55 a week - it’s just astronomical on top of everything else.”
The meat merchant has opened daily from 5.30am despite living on the Isle of Sheppey, and initially closed at 6pm.
He was then informed that if he closed at 3pm he would have been just £28 worse off over the previous six months, as that’s all he’d taken after this time over that period.
Mr Killingbeck - who opened his shop in July 2017 - also noted that on one day last week he had a total of four customers, who bought items totalling £23.64.
With petrol and parking costs, he took about £8 for the day.
The 63-year-old says part of the problem is with current retail trends and described Ashford as a “ghost town”.
He added: “You’ve got umpteen estate agents and hairdressers in this town and, saving the estate agents, there’s only a café and mortgage broker on this street.
“None of them have bought anything from me.
“A lot of the people moving into the new houses work in London and buy all their shopping online from a supermarket.
“Perhaps they might go to the Outlet from time to time but there’s nothing bringing them here.
"Ashford is facing the same challenges as other towns across the country..."
“I’m all about good quality, and we sell the same stuff as a supermarket except they only sell meat I wouldn’t buy.”
Having spent almost his whole life as a butcher - except for a short stint as a bookmaker - the father-of-two is now looking for a part-time job until his retirement in two years.
He hopes to have a short break before re-entering the world of work.
In a statement, an ABC spokeswoman says it is working to draw shoppers to the town.
She said: “Ashford is facing the same challenges as other towns across the country – there is more online shopping and a general decline in footfall on the high street.
“As a council we are working hard to support existing businesses and attract new ones.
“LoveAshford, the council’s digital high street, promote the town’s businesses and run events throughout the year, including last year’s Illuminites, to encourage people to visit the town centre.
“The council also owns and manages Park Mall shopping centre, and recently redeveloped Coachworks and Elwick Place, which saw the opening of Macknade earlier this week.
“We are also aware of the need to evolve and change the high street offer, something which is also happening across the country, and we are continuing to work on a programme of events and activities to draw footfall to the town centre.”
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