Shropshire Star comment: Authorities must take an interest
Some years ago the closure of Woolworths stores caused shockwaves up and down the High Street.
Today we seem to get an equivalent of Woolworths every other day.
The list of familiar names struggling to survive is becoming so long that it is getting difficult to remember them all. Toys R Us, Maplin, Prezzo, to name just some affected in recent weeks.
The latest to flash up into the public’s consciousness in this litany of woe is Carpetright. The Telford store is among 92 stores facing closure in the coming weeks and months under a big restructuring, while those at Shrewsbury and Oswestry are due to survive.
It just goes to show the challenges and difficulties being faced out there in that cut-throat competitive world, with high streets and retail parks under immense pressure.
The economic weather is creating a wind of change which is leading to lasting alterations on the shopping scene, while the meteorological weather has played its part in making the start of this year especially tough.
In the snow and rain people can stay warm and comfy at home rather than going out to a restaurant or shopping at a physical, bricks and mortar shop, as opposed to the online variety.
Plunge
It is into this environment that Shropshire Council has taken the plunge by taking on shopping centres in Shrewsbury. This means that Shropshire council taxpayers have a stake in how these shopping centres fare. It also means that the council has the power to influence the “offer” of these shopping centres in line with its strategic plans to re-energise the town centre.
The council has become directly connected to their fortunes. Before, councillors could view things happening on the High Street and retail centres as the workings of market forces, beyond their remit and beyond their control.
Now the economic retail health of Shrewsbury town centre is more of the council’s business, quite literally, than it has ever been. Nor should the Government feel that it does not bear a responsibility for what is happening.
In part, it sets the tone, which needs to be encouraging and sympathetic rather than uncertain and giving an air of helplessness. Businesses need to be reassured that the Government has a positive vision for the future, and doesn’t have a shrug of the shoulders, whatever will be, will be, attitude to the troubles of those on the High Street.
In the middle of long-term change and revolution it is always difficult to know how things will turn out in the end. That, though, does not mean you cannot try to work to influence the outcome for the better.
