Dozens of you have already taken the chance to share your views through our shoppers' survey which we will be passing on to council leaders.

Half the respondents told us they shop in Dewsbury up to three times a week and a third visit on four or more days.

The responses show Dewsbury is also the place 50 per cent of you do your main food shopping.

Elaine Carter, from Hanging Heaton, said: "It's so compact and easy to walk round. The pedestrianised areas are very good."

Ann Holgate, from Dewsbury, loved the town's friendly atmosphere but said it was spoilt when cars blasting out music drove by. Mavis Goodlad, who gets the bus into town from Earlsheaton, said she also loved the atmosphere as well as the short walking distance between shops.

But not everyone chose Dewsbury as their top shopping spot.

Gillian Hayes, from Hanging Heaton, said the town needed sprucing up.

She said: "I find Dewsbury run down, dirty and depressing. Nothing inspires me to shop in the town."

When we asked which shops people would like to see in Dewsbury, one name came up time and again – Marks and Spencer. Almost half the respondents said they wanted the high street retailer to return to the town.

People also wanted to see more shops selling shoes, ladies fashion and babies' clothing as well as a department store.

And when we asked how Dewsbury could be improved, there was no shortage of suggestions. Pat McManus, from Dewsbury Moor, thought more high street names and a cinema could prove popular.

Others wanted to see independent shops encouraged, empty units brought back into use and retailers working closer together.

Don Burslam, from Dewsbury Moor, said he would like to see Dewsbury's award-winning market open more often.

But the two big issues people wanted addressed were the state of Pioneer House and parking.

Kath Savage, from Hanging Heaton, said improving the look of the town, including Pioneer House, would encourage more shoppers and new businesses.

Richard Handscombe, from Dewsbury, said parking was the major problem and the Cliffe Street parking permit scheme was nonsense.

He said: "If the councillors really do care about the town then why don't they do something radical about this instead of pussy-footing around on the edges?"