Jim Parker: Strand trader Steve accepts there’s no gain without pain

Then there is the perennial problem which is parking. Steve says: "You need decent parking. As it stands the parking in town  is not attractive." Footfall into his shop has obviously been effected but he says: "We are not particularly a strong area economically. The blame cannot be put at one particular door, It is parking. It is anti-social behaviour, the feel good factor and the weather." He says the area needed regeneration: "Whether the project is good or bad remains to be seen. That is subjective. "I can see the benefits of regeneration. This is a big part of that. "The Strand needed modernisation and it has to be brought into this century. There is a price to pay for a period." 

He has met with Torbay MP Kevin Foster to see if he has case for a business rates rebate or reduction but he is not holding his breath as thousands of other businesses struggling to trade in the high street do the same thing. But he has no intention of walking away and throwing in the towel

He says: "I am watching the ships out in the Bay being tossed around in the seas and the wind - I am the same. I cannot do anything about it. My plans are to remain here because in reality it is such a good trading area. "It does not matter what you do or say, it is irrelevant. I am a little man with no punch."