Market Drayton Chamber of Trade faces a period of uncertainty following the resignation of its chairman this week.
Councillor Roy Aldcroft, who had been chairman for the last five years, informed members of his decision to step down on Tuesday.
Councillor Aldcroft, 59, recently underwent hospital treatment for a heart condition but he intends to continue as a town councillor and vice president of Market Drayton Rotary Club.
He said: “I’ve had the privilege of chairing the Chamber of Trade since 2006 and it has been an extremely enjoyable experience.
“We’ve had some notable successes and I’ve been very fortunate to represent a brilliant, energetic and committed team of people over the last five years.
“However, the period of illness I’ve had has helped me to review things and I feel now is the time to step down as chairman and let somebody else have a go.”
Councillor Aldcroft, who runs a chiropody clinic in Wilkinson Walk, succeeded Martin Beer as chamber of trade chairman in 2006.
A number of projects have taken place during his time in office, including the launch of a quarterly farmers’ market and last year’s Shop Local campaign encouraging residents to use local independent traders.
Councillor Aldcroft said: “Most of the significant projects done by the chamber were possible only because of the skills and energy of a committed team of people working for the benefit of our community.
“We’ve had some very interesting times and done some very interesting things, but I feel there are sufficiently skilled and experienced people in the chamber to take the job of chairman on.
“I shall be available during the transition for whoever takes over, but it’s quite clear that there are some seriously big issues facing Market Drayton and I feel my energies are best served supporting the wider community.”
One of Councillor Aldcroft’s final jobs was to provide the chamber’s response to Shropshire Council’s Draft Parking Strategy and coordinate a leaflet and poster campaign against plans to introduce on-street parking charges.
He said: “One of the reasons I hung on as chairman was to prepare our case against parking charges and having done that, I feel that I’ve completed my brief.
“My wife is quite pleased that I’ve decided to reduce my activities and there will be at least one night a week where she’ll know where I am.”
By Winston Brown