Ghost town YouTube video highlights Newtown demise

http://youtu.be/PyXs7TuB6qI

A 'Ghost Town' video highlighting the demise of Newtown's trade over the last 12-months has been posted on YouTube.

The anonymous video, posted under the name of CutPryce, was uploaded on Sunday and has so far received about 3,750 views.

It features images depicting the state of the town at the beginning of 2012 and highlights the closure of the town's Little Chef, Focus, CK Food Stores, Border Mobility and the closing down sale of national clothing store Bonmarche.

The background music also features the 1981 number one single The Ghost Town by The Specials.

Many people have blamed the town's traffic chaos for its misfortune but some believe it is just a sign of the times.

One anonymous viewer of the You Tube video, commented: "The traffic problems have killed it. No-one can be bothered to go in the town centre anymore. There's no jobs at all which forces people to move away to find work. What does Newtown have to offer retailers?"

Former Newtown mayor Joy Jones said it was awfully sad to see the the town portrayed as it was in the video. She said: "The video shows a true description of what the town is like now and it's very sad to see it. Unfortunately, this is a sign of the times."

Councillors and politicians have been campaigning for something to be done to encourage more traders in the town to stay.

Montgomeryshire AM Russell George, said 'pop-up' shops could occupy vacant town centre premises for as little as a week.