THE future is bright for business in Westbury says one shopkeeper who has chosen the town over many larger rivals to set up his new lighting venture.

Clive Tallent, 48, opened his shop, Pure Lighting in Warminster Road, on Saturday.

He set up the business from home in Slough but recently decided to move further west. After looking at Chippenham, Devizes and Warminster he decided Westbury would be the best place to set up shop.

At the end of last year three shops, The Open Golf Shop and Optical Art, in High Street, and Wear It in Maristow Street, closed, sparking fears business was ebbing away from the town. But Mr Tallent believes it will build up again.

He said: "I think the amount of new shops and developments will grow in Westbury over the next few years and this was one of the reasons for picking it.

"What appeals to me is all the new houses which fall into many different categories from one bedroom flats where lighting needs are quite basic to four or five bedroom houses where it is more complex.

"With all the new development the rest of the town has to catch up. "It's happening in Trowbridge and I'd say Westbury is about two or three years behind in terms of new developments."

"I plan to be here at least three years. I can see Westbury greatly building itself up with the new housing estates and businesses are trying to attract people back into the town." The new shop is built on two levels and includes a retail area and a studio upstairs which can be used for lighting demonstrations.

Mr Tallent, who has been in the business for 20 years, works with both domestic and commercial lighting and is currently working on a project with Bristol University. Pure Lighting was opened on Saturday by Westbury mayor Mike Hawkins.

Patrick Robeson, from Westbury Chamber of Commerce, said he agreed business was looking better for the town. "It certainly looks more encouraging. We had a very sad period when shop after shop was closing and there are still one or two going but I've got the impression that the town is looking up a bit," he said.

"The big Westbury Leigh development on the Warminster side of town is very positive. "There are some very attractively done houses which look of good quality and that should attract customers who might have a few shillings to spend in the town."

Mr Tallent said a decision to allow two hours free parking in Westbury was also an incentive to shop in the town. The free parking was reintroduced in November and was due to be considered by the cabinet of West Wiltshire District Council on Wednesday.