Loyal residents have jumped on board the Express Help Your High Street campaign to encourage more people to support their town.

And we want to encourage more of our readers to shop in your own town to help support small businesses through the tricky economic downturn.

This week, as part of Help Your High Street, we asked what was most needed to attract people to do their shopping in Normanton.

Chairman of the Altofts Residents Together group, Martin Walker, said: “I think free parking is a necessity and I know that a lot of the local residents agree.”

Mr Walker, of Calverley Green Road, in Altofts, said after the refurbishment of the Assembly Rooms building on the High Street, the rest of the shops would benefit from a revamp.

He said: “The work that was done to the Assembly Rooms is amazing. Everyone thinks it looks brilliant. If every shop along the street could have this kind of refurbishment, then the High Street would look fantastic.”

Mr Walker also believes the introduction of a farmers’ market would attract shoppers.

Traders think clearer signposts directing people to the town centre would help boost trade.

Chairman of the Normanton Chamber of Trade, and owner of McEvoy’s Butchers, Terry McEvoy, said: “For years we have asked the council to put up signposts directing people towards the shops from Wakefield Road and Castleford Road.

“Now the bypass is in place it is too easy for visitors to travel from Wakefield to Castleford without even knowing the shops are there. Getting the correct signs in place would definitely help traders.”

Despite these views Wakefield Council says it is doing all it can to help trade in Normanton.

A council spokesman said: “We will be happy to consider additional Normanton town centre signs and if they are found to be required they will be added to the signage upgrade for Normanton pedestrianisation which is included in the 2009/10 Local Transport Plan.

“Car parking charges in Normanton are kept lower than neighbouring towns like Castleford to encourage local trade. Reducing parking charges to zero may have a negative effect on the town as it could potentially encourage all-day parking, attracting people who would commute out of Normanton to other towns or cities and significantly reduce the availability of short stay spaces.

“We are reviewing our provision of speciality markets across the district and hope to develop new markets in several locations.”