A BUSINESSWOMAN has spoken of the need for collaboration to benefit the town's high street businesses.

Tanya Lynch, who edits the Penarth View magazine and is founder of media consultancy company Lynchpin, was speaking as part of the Penarth Times' Your High Street: Use It or Lose It campaign.

The campaign was launched to promote and save the town's high streets following declining footfall figures by exploring the issues that affect how and why people use them and how we can encourage more people to shop locally.

Miss Lynch moved to Penarth in 2009 and started working in retail at a surf shop as head of marketing.

She says she has been "on the beat" with business in the town and knows what businesses want.

She moved back into media and worked with high street businesses in Cowbridge where she regularly attended chamber of trade meetings.

She said: "I know what works and what does not. Working with local businesses has been good for me."

Miss Lynch came back to Penarth and set up the quarterly magazine Penarth View which has now been up and running for two and a half years.

She also founded Lynchpin media two years ago and in 2014 set up Business Women Connect in Penarth.

Having started out with just eight members, the network now has 400 members across four areas including Penarth, Cowbridge, Barry and Roath.

Miss Lynch said: "I feel I am right under the skin of these market towns.

"There is a lot of positive attitude around for both established and new businesses.

"The key word for me is collaboration.

"It is good to work with your business neighbours.

"Just as the Welsh football team slogan said, we are together stronger.

"You need to have a glass half full kind of attitude because in business there are always hurdles and it is about how you overcome them," she said.

She added: "Everyone in the town wants to see Penarth do well and all it takes is one voice.

"There are lots of channels at the moment but we need one funnel.

"You can dilute your message with too many voices."

We are always keen to find out what you think about Penarth's high streets and what can be done to get more people to use them.

Send us your thoughts by calling 07760215094 or emailing alewis@penarthtimes.co.uk