An estimated 140,000 shop jobs were lost last year, with warnings another 170,000 could go in 2020 unless urgent action is taken. But it’s not all doom and gloom.
Despite an onslaught of online competition, some high streets are thriving.
As we enter the New Year, the Mirror – which is championing town centres with our High Street Fightback campaign – highlights three of the many inspirational places that are standard-bearers for how it can be done.
Buzzing as we have the best community spirit
It’s 11am on a Friday and Belper’s main street is bustling.
The town lies at the heart of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site. Industrial pioneer Jedediah Strutt built one of the world’s first water powered cotton spinning mills here in 1776.
But, like many towns, it has had its fair share of challenges in recent years.
Chocolate maker Thorntons and a clothes company closed their factories in the early 2000s, and textile maker Courtaulds shut its plant in 2016, with hundreds of job losses.
But you couldn’t tell the impact if you took a walk round the Derbyshire town’s centre now.
There is hardly an empty shop, and along with a few chain stores – including Boots, Wilko, Card Factory and Hays Travel – there are an array of independents. They include two butchers and a greengrocer, gift shops, plus the wonderful looking Ritz Cinema.
But above all, there is a genuine buzz about the place.
Chris Gregory, co-owner of the fantastic Beaurepaire Patisserie cafe, echoes many the Mirror spoke to about why the high street is doing well. He said: “It’s got the best community spirit. Whenever an event is put on it’s really well attended.”
Chris, 34, who is born and bred in the town, and his partner have another shop in Belper and added his sister plans to open an interiors store here. He said: “The shops don’t become available that often and go really quickly.”
Julia Greening has had her furniture and interiors shop, Sundial, for 11 years. She appealed for people not to take local shops for granted, saying: “If you let shops go, they are lost for ever.”
One reason for Belper’s success is a band of business owners who have worked tirelessly to promote the place.
They include Laura Armstrong, who runs menswear shop Strut, and chairs the Love Belper committee. The Love Belper website has been a big hit, while its use of social media has drawn visitors in from further afield. Laura, 38, said: “We have people coming from Derby because they say it’s dying on its feet.”
Laura, who praised Belper town council for its support, said trading for her is hard, despite all the efforts.
It proves how even high streets that are pulling out all the stops still need people’s backing to flourish.
Transformed after tough times
Five years ago Treorchy was just another part of the Valleys struggling to come to terms with the collapse of big industry.
But take the time to stroll down the high street now and you realise an inspiring transformation has slowly taken place.
Treorchy has nearly 100 shops. Whereas a decade ago many were struggling or empty, the town now boasts an occupancy rate of 96%.
The vast majority of these businesses are independent and most are run by women, giving the high street a refreshingly cosy vibe.
This transformation has been the result of a lot of hard work by business leaders here who realised action had to be taken.
They came together under the stewardship of Treorchy Chamber of Trade chairman Adrian Emmett, who has watched the membership soar from 30 to 120. The traders have launched a series of initiatives, such as the Visit Treorchy website, to attract people to invest. Adrian explained that, underpinning it all, is a “circular market” in which each business prioritises buying from each other.
He said: “Towns like this did not have the confidence. They needed to believe in themselves and we needed to change the mindset. I like to think we’re doing that and the confidence is back.
“I am so proud of how much we have achieved.”
Holly Thomas, 19, who is the very proud owner of the Number 86 gift shop, said: “I think the reason it has worked is because we have all come together.”
Zoe Davies, 30, who has run the Fusion beauty parlour for 12 years, is delighted by the way Treorchy’s high street has been transformed.
She said: “It was worrying at one point when you saw all the empty shops but now it is thriving and it is nice to be part of it.”
Plenty to smile about in the friendliest port
The number of people visiting the award-winning shops here has rocketed.
Civic chiefs from across the country go to Amble, Northumberland, to learn the secrets of its success.
It was shortlisted in 2018 for the Great British High Street champion award after winning the coastal community category three years ago.
Traders in what is known as “the friendliest port” are seeing the benefits of the “Harbour Village”, part of a £2.5million Government investment. A £396,000 national bird sculpture trail is to come.
The town square’s beautiful war memorial is a reminder of Amble’s proud history; the Cock & Bull micro pub shows it is moving with the times.
That is where the cock and bull ends; there is real success here. Queen Street is at the heart of it.
It has a bistro, hardware stores, a pub, a fish and chip shop, tea rooms, a clothes store, fruit and veg, and plenty more. Thousands flock to a Sunday market by the picturesque port. The Harbour Village sells a mix of jewellery, cosmetics, clothes and cakes.
Julia Aston, of the Amble Development Trust, set up in 1994 to regenerate the area, said: “The success of the high street is down to independent businesses. We also have 15 pods in the Harbour Village which are easy to lease. They give new businesses the chance to test the water.”
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