LB First: The High Street has become a barometer
LB First column by Gennaro Borrelli, LB First chairman
I have had many people speaking to me recently about their concern for the Tuesday market, and whilst there is no doubt about there being fewer stalls, what is really worrying is the speed at which this is happening.
There is much pride for our historical, market town, and when I speak to people who are new to the town they often tell me that the market is one of the many things that attracted them to move here.
Our twice weekly market is well established going back centuries with its charter and even being named in the Doomsday Book. Some people have cited an increase in overheads such as pitch fees, fuel costs, rubbish disposal, stock and supply chains at the same time as a decline in footfall and customer spend.
Then you factor in the bank closures, increased parking fees, problems with the multi-storey car park, reduced free parking in the supermarket car parks, antisocial behaviour, retail parks with free parking, online shopping and crucially a lack of vision and no sign of any kind of redevelopment of the Land South of the High Street, which could be a real catalyst and opportunity for our town.
With many commercial properties continuing to sit empty in the town centre, advertised at ridiculously high rents, even if some are in a poor state of repair, making it harder for genuine businesses wanting to open a shop with some believing it is a deliberate tactic by landlords to make it easier to apply for planning permission for a change of use from commercial to residential whilst exploiting loopholes to avoid paying business rates.
As we saw in the recent local elections around other parts of the country, the state of our high streets has become a real barometer and was frequently top of the list when residents were asked about how they felt about where they lived, with these issues being even more acute in the more deprived areas of the country.
And as various political parties announce a plethora of policies and pledges, challenges remain and to ignore the plight of the high street will be at their peril.
For more information contact Gennaro on 01525 854273 and LB First Facebook page.