Jenny Frances, a resident in Axminster, shares with the Midweek Herald why she loves this town. 

Axminster, a small market town in East Devon, has recently been racking up negative reviews, claiming it is on its way to becoming a ghost town.

I personally moved to Axminster with my two children 11 years ago and have created a successful business and made lifelong friends with some of the nicest people I know.

I go to many groups that Axminster boasts, ranging from singing to dance to theatre productions. The pubs are fantastic as are the choice of restaurants and cafes.

There’s a wide range of beauty salons, a Health and Wellbeing centre and so much more. The list is endless. So, I felt compelled to highlight just what is happening in our lovely community and the many reasons why we should celebrate our market town.

One rather unfair comment was with regard to the traffic. What busy town doesn’t have traffic flowing through it? That’s not Axminster's fault. If you were to just dig a little deeper, you will find so many new initiatives and projects that have been created by local people, offering a wealth of opportunities for such a small town with its compassionate and generous community. So enough is enough. It’s time for new beginnings and a fresh outlook. It's time our town was recognised and respected and to stop playing a continually broken record.

I feel very protective of our little town when I read such damning reports, and it’s the businesses in particular I feel sorry for. It is true that some businesses have closed, yet many have recently opened and some are longstanding and expanding, even award winning!

South Street in particular is a little gem. It has an array of successful businesses and a friendly buzz to it, which actually drew me personally to Axminster.

It houses a unique charity which offers support locally for anyone experiencing grief or trauma, and another that is run by caring volunteers offering care support to vulnerable people. Then there’s the health food shop, the organic greengrocer and our popular library. As for the multi-award winning coffee shop well, that’s a must!

High streets are affected hugely by the economic climate which everyone knows is ever-changing and affects all towns not just ours. So we all need to take a look at the positives that are occurring within our town and really learn about Axminster’s journey.

A great hub of information for people is the recently launched What’s In Axminster, a community project that showcases all the reasons you should visit “the town that we call home”.

They aim to promote local businesses, bring attention to the town’s community groups and keep locals up-to-date with what’s happening in our lovely town. Their journey has just begun, but their website is already starting to bring awareness to everything that is Axminster.

Light Up Axminster, initially created to fund the town’s Christmas lights, is another incredible initiative that has gone on to offer numerous town events, including the eight-day festival “The Cherry Fayre” and countless Health and Wellbeing initiatives. All of this is thanks to the community of Axminster and the strength formed when the town comes together.

An incredible addition to Axminster has been The Community Waffle House. This amazing project began in 2019, with a mission to combat loneliness by providing locals with opportunities to become a part of the community.

They run weekly services and groups for the whole community as well as use their platform to help others in the community. At the same time, they have created a wonderful hub for family and friends alike with the best waffles around.

Axminster has many long-standing and successful independent businesses and is a fantastic home for more to come.

The Archway Bookshop, open in Axminster since 1966, provides a large selection of books and organises author events in collaboration with The Community Waffle House.

Simon Holmes, owner of Archway, writes: “We love running a business in Axminster. While the town faces the same economic challenges as most of its size, it’s been a good place for us over the last four years. During that time we have invested in moving to a prime location and it is certainly paying off in terms of growth.”

The people of Axminster always find a way to come together. When interviewing an array of newcomers to our town, it left a resounding message - we all simply love living here. Faye Towers, a local resident, writes: “I relocated to Axminster from Leicester last year and have just fallen in love with the town. The local pubs are fantastic, the people extremely welcoming and the transport links are fab. And not to mention the amazing greenery around us. It’s an all-round perfect place to live!”

Resident Tim Vaine, who has recently moved here, writes: “I like the town. It’s small and friendly. There are lots of community events and plenty of opportunities for growth.”

Another anonymous resident writes that due to her daughter moving to the town, she is considering moving to Axminster herself.

She writes: “I absolutely love the town. It has a lovely community feel. It has a railway, a veterinary surgery, an amazing medical practice and the Thursday market is a real draw.

“The amenities like the swimming pool, pubs and cafes, the Guildhall and gyms are an attraction as is the beautiful location. And not to forget the schools, as they were key to my daughter moving here. I can’t wait to move!”

Amid the challenges and misconceptions faced by our small town, Axminster’s community pull together for the greater good. These individuals have creatively transferred their skills to provide experiences and support for as many people as possible.

I know of so many caring and conscientious local folk who all want to make a difference and I’m proud to play a part in that journey. It is time that we acknowledge Axminster for simply being Axminster.

Not just a place to get to other places, but a unique rural town in Devon, doing its very best and more for its community.

I want to leave you with this - a quote from a local businessperson which I feel sums it all up perfectly: “The town has a real sense of community and a willingness to support local businesses. Our customers treat us as friends. It’s just that sort of town.”