IT is known for its vibrancy and as a place where independent businesses can thrive. With boutique shops, long-running family stores, cafes and popular bars and restaurants, Stockton Heath is usually a bustling place for shopping and socialising. But the ongoing coronavirus crisis and sustained periods of lockdown paint a very different picture of the village. And while the Prime Minister’s ‘road map’ out of pandemic restrictions offers some hope, there is a sense among some traders that optimism is one thing but surviving day-to-day is another. “For the independents, it’s a nightmare,” said Peter Wharfe, who has run family business All That Jazz for 30 years.