The pretty little UK town full of boarded up shops as locals cry 'we've been forgotten'

Locals in a historic Surrey market town feel like they've been "forgotten" as it grapples with declining footfall and boarded up shops.

Nestled along the River Thames, Chertsey, 18 miles south-west of central London, should be a bustling town with it being in close proximity to Heathrow Airport and Thorpe Park.

However, the town lies forgotten next to its famous neighbours, with bustling Esher and charming Weybridge stealing the spotlight.

The town, which finds itself at a crossroads, is in dire need of serious revamp as it struggles to maintain its vibrancy and appeal.

“We feel forgotten about”, Roz Monksfield, of Heaters Bakery on Windsor Street, told Express.co.uk.

Ms Monksfield, who has lived in Chertsey since 1988, believes the town is a far cry from its former busting self in the 1980s and 1990s.

She said: “Everyone used to know everyone here and now that is not the case. There is nothing for youngsters to do and this is how young people end up turning to bad things.

“We used to have a nightlife and now we don’t. The high street has massively declined. There are no shoe shops, post offices or banks. Instead all we have is charity shops and cafes.”

As banks close their doors and offices transform into flats, local businesses are left wondering why investment isn’t being put into the well-positioned town that as one resident puts “is often given an unfair reputation”.

Alex Zandona, who owns Artizan Interiors on Guildford Street, believes the high street has to adapt and the answer could be as simple as “smartening up the town.”

He told Express.co.uk: “The assumption when you look at this high street is that it's low income but that’s not the case, the derelict King's Head pub is an eye sore.

“The high street needs to look nicer, just smartening the town up would really help. The council cleaning up the streets would be a good start.

“Better marketing would help get people to come here, we need a key focal point in the town for people to go too.”

Mr Zandona insists that Chertsey is not all doom and gloom, with the town hosting two fairs encouraging people to visit the historic place.

He added: “There are lots of events for people to get involved in with the Christmas and summer fairs. You can also head straight into London from here, you’ve got everything you need here for businesses to succeed but people are scared to invest here.”

Chertsey has been given a £1million cash injection by the government, which will go towards regeneration.

The proposed regeneration of the town set out by Runnymede Borough Council could reinvigorate business opportunities, and improve the overall outlook of the area. With government grants to revamp shopfronts, the high street could start to look much brighter.