Footfall in town centres...
In the late 80’s the local town centre was demolished and a new shopping centre was built on land basically pinched by the council from various trusts and charities.
(Pinched on the basis that it’s not retail or doesn’t have planning for housing so is worth a pittance. Then sold on to a huge developer at a stonking profit.)
Anyway, some bloke took a video of the shops and centre as it was. The real surprise, especially to our kids (in their 20s) was the numbers of people out shopping. Huge numbers, packed on to pavements. Regular busses, on street free parking (now gone or metered) and supermarkets in the town centre.
Of course when the anchor shops like Debenhams go, the supporting coffee shops, cafes and independents will also suffer a further fall in sales.
I’m going to have to look around for a new clothing supplier and I’m not happy, everything I am wearing at the moment is either from Debenhams or Arcadia!
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