AS regular readers of this column will know, I am always up for a good rant about Kent Highways.

I think the recent works in Broadstairs are ridiculous, have not improved congestion a jot and are in some cases, considering the expensive alterations carried out in 2008 that have been ripped back up a mere two years later, downright immoral.

Still, I cannot help feeling that to blame the closure of four shops in as many days on the upheaval these "improvements" caused, is to over-simplify.

As is to concentrate one's furies on the other factors highlighted by disgruntled traders in last week's Isle of Thanet Gazette.

There's the recession yes, the cost of parking yes, competition from Westwood Cross (who was it who told us it wouldn't affect our town centres?) yes, yes and yes. But there's more to a lack of activity on the High Street than even that and shouting about it won't solve the problem.

Like it or not, Westwood Cross is here to stay and while I limit my exposure (and bad temper) to the traffic and crowds, I'm sure many of us would agree it can be useful for things we once went to Canterbury for.

Although nobody finds the scrabbling for change and trudging to the meter more tedious than I do, parking charges unfortunately are a necessary evil. Both for the revenue, and so that High Street staff don't commandeer every space at 8am preventing potential shoppers from stopping by at all. (Twenty minutes free could work though and should be tried). And as for the ravages of the economic climate, count yourselves lucky good fellow residents of Broadstairs – have you walked along the High Streets of Margate or Ramsgate lately? Leaving aside the matter of whether the council could do more to fill all those empty shops (whenever I've suggested they are let out with a lengthy holiday from business rates I've been fobbed off with dark mutterings about central government – it will be interesting to see who they blame the isle's ills on now!), I find myself agreeing with Bob Bayford (it had to happen one day) that the solution is largely in our hands. The new leader of the council, quoted in this paper last week, has called upon everyone in Thanet "to shop locally at least once a week". I presume by this he means use the smaller independent shops in the high streets (Westwood Cross is local!) and if so, then I would heartily echo that plea.

I admit that a large portion of my family's shopping comes from Waitrose because it's brilliant and the staff are lovely, but we also make a point of spending money with the traders here in town wherever we can. Which is most days a week not just the once. If this means paying 10p more than I would in the supermarket or having to stick 50p in a parking meter – it's worth it. To support them. Because we want them to survive.

Some years ago, on the last night of my co-ownership of Harpers Wine Bar, in Broadstairs, a resident of the town expressed his dismay that we were leaving. My friend and then-business-partner, Jacqui Cook, reacted with surprise, pointing out that he hadn't been for a drink for many months. "I might not come in," he said, unabashed. "But you're like the sea. I still want to know you're there." Jacqui, with admirable presence of mind, made a swift response. "Well bad luck," she replied tartly. "The tide's just gone out." It's easy to be that "customer". To want the traditional pubs, old-fashioned shopkeepers, cute boutiques and handy corner stores but do nothing to keep them. When it comes to our High Streets, it really is use 'em or lose 'em. Or the tide will go out. And stay there.

There will be a meeting of the Save Broadstairs High Street Campaign in the Methodist Church Hall, York Street, Broadstairs on Sunday, Jane 13 at 4pm.