Traders have singled out street drinking and homelessness as of the highest concern when listing issues to tackle to make their town a better for business.

An annual survey by Stroud and District Chamber of Trade found the primary concerns also included street sleeping and empty shops, all of which it was thought blighted the Cotswold town.

The report was a follow-up to the chamber's 2017 study - intelligence gathering as it seeks to play a greater part in the well-being of the market town.

"In respect of the primary concern the survey indicates a shift from empty shops and the way this makes the town look to street drinking, homelessness and street sleeping and empty shops," said the report's executive summary, comparing the year-on-year findings.

The report notes more work would be needed to draw any conclusions about the shift of concerns away from empty shops, as it suggests those numbers have not changed since 2017.

This is excluding the additional empty units in the town in Merrywalks Shopping Centre - factored out no doubt because they are the result of the on-going multi-million-pound GFirst LEP-backed Dransfield Properties redevelopment.

"The street drinking issues we face in town today are voiced as having an adverse effect on attracting visitors (frightening them away) and increases the anxiety and fear levels of business people too.

"The opinion of who is responsible (and to what level) across the concerns differs in almost all cases."

It added: "However, it's not all about others, and 52 per cent of participants offered up ideas on how they could help improve the business community, with an emphasis on working together.

"There are also existing initiatives that could be better communicated, so enabling an improved impression of what is available today (such as some free parking after 3pm on Monday to Saturday)."

"Respondents have also indicated their perceived priorities for the Stroud and District Chamber of Trade and Commerce with a clear indication that the chamber should be more involved with encouraging business and tourism into the area.

"This is closely followed by lobbying local government to highlight the concerns of local business and then being more involved in consultations with town and district councils on plans and proposals."

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