Things can only get better

WinterWarrior

Yes Happy Birthday…apologies I was thinking the offers were coming in early. 

I do hope MrSA understands the present are just for you and doesn’t want his share ⭐️

Sun_Addict

It’s not my birthday yet, 2 weeks time.

I usually shop in M&S, JL, Boots but I was shocked to see the sheer amount of shops closed down. I used to walk through town every morning on my way to work and that route has changed so much. It does look as if there are a few new shops opening up so hopefully it will pick up once things start getting back to normal. There seem to be a lot more down and outs around sadly. 

Waiting for a Mr M shop to arrive this morning then will take the dog out for a long walk. It’s nice not to think about logging on but the downside is Mr SA is trying to think of things for me to do and places he wants to go. 

I need to try and get through to Boots today and I also need to ring Virgin about the poor quality picture through the TiVo box, the picture keeps pixelating, I know it’s not my TV as Netflix etc are fine. 

alt80

Sorry think it was me who started the happy birthdays lol

I know where you’re coming from tbh I do try to stay as optimistic as I can. Homeless population does seem to be growing unfortunately. Idk I’m not moving away to another city anytime try to make the most of what we’ve got lol. Could be worse could live in Derby. 😆

RelievedSheff

I think all town and city centres have gone downhill in the last couple of years.

Worksop town centre was never great to start with but just now the number of closed shops seems to out number the number of open shops.

The local council have several projects on the go to try and encourage new shops to take over the empty units and they are turning one of the empty shopping centres into a college building which should hopefully attract more footfall.

It's a shame as we really enjoy going to the market in town. It has some great stalls selling fresh vegetables, bakery produce, fish and meat. But there is nothing else to attract people into the town centre. There is a lot of investment being made with new retail units, hotels, restaurants and food outlets along the A57 corridor, but if anything that is pulling people away from the town centre not towards it! 

The local police have had a crack down recently on the homeless and alcoholics in the town centre who have been running a mock and causing problems for shoppers. Fingers crossed the situation will improve.

WinterWarrior

Leeds used to be terrible for homeless people and beggars, but you don’t see them at all in the far north. I guess the population is just too small to be worth begging and maybe there are enough hostel placements to go around. I’m sure it’s just as bad in the cities ☹️

Onebrokelady

WinterWarrior said:

Leeds used to be terrible for homeless people and beggars, but you don’t see them at all in the far north. I guess the population is just too small to be worth begging and maybe there are enough hostel placements to go around. I’m sure it’s just as bad in the cities ☹️

They have all come down here 😀a lot of our homeless community are from the north,it's warmer down here 😊

Onebrokelady

Sun_Addict said:

It’s not my birthday yet, 2 weeks time.

I usually shop in M&S, JL, Boots but I was shocked to see the sheer amount of shops closed down. I used to walk through town every morning on my way to work and that route has changed so much. It does look as if there are a few new shops opening up so hopefully it will pick up once things start getting back to normal. There seem to be a lot more down and outs around sadly. 

Waiting for a Mr M shop to arrive this morning then will take the dog out for a long walk. It’s nice not to think about logging on but the downside is Mr SA is trying to think of things for me to do and places he wants to go. 

I need to try and get through to Boots today and I also need to ring Virgin about the poor quality picture through the TiVo box, the picture keeps pixelating, I know it’s not my TV as Netflix etc are fine. 

Glad you enjoyed lunch with your friends 😡to Mr SA coming to find you. Our city Centre has lots of  closed shops with House Of Fraser and Debenhams closed down,House Of Fraser is currently being developed but I don't know what it's going to be, it could be smaller shops or student housing, we have a massive student population and they are literally building accommodation everywhere and anywhere 

Funny you mentioned problems with your Virgin Tv,I am also with them and have been having the same issues this week 

milann

Yes our town has gone down too…..very few shops I’d visit. There’s plans afoot including flats, a community hub and new bus station with a park above it…..but they’ll all take time. What’s the woman’s name who did studies on town centres a while back…..Mary Portas ? Queen of shopping or something similar. Anyway she did a study of our town but things have gone from bad to worse, we used to have a cracking market but that went downhill….it has been remodelled into a more artisan craft market and now has a lovely eatery but it’s gone expensive.
 Hope the weather is nice for you so that you can enjoy your week off.

WinterWarrior

Markets seem quite rare now! I used to love a good market ☹️

ladyholly

I think all town and city centres have gone down. Too many people shopping on line have meant that shops are no longer making a profit, landlords increasing rents, huge sums demanded for business rates and covid being the straw that has broken many backs. I can only say f you want town and city centres back support what is there and give people the confidence to open new businesses.

I heard the other dfay that rents on shops in some areas are being cut by up to 40% now all we need is for business rates to be cut and people to support their towns and cities and you never know it may be worth shopping there again.

It also needs local councils to stop allowing businesses to open on the outskirts of towns. I live in a small town and we have the bigger shops (The range,  B&Q etc)  in 3 different areas on the outskirts and  only one area is easily accessible by public transport. this is in a town with a high proportion of older people.