What will happen to our towns if we all shop online?

Our local Market town had many traditional family shops, many of which have closed over the past few years,. There has fortunately been a trend for new businesses to start up. We have recently seen a florist, a plant shop (no competition for the florist - it sells just potted plants) a retro toy shop, two new coffee shops and a nail bar ( of course! ) There is still a twice weekly market and a farmer's market once a month. However, ther business rates charged are absolutely ridiculous. One long established shop relocated to smaller premises further away from the town centre, and it was no surprise when I saw the empty shop advertised - with an annual council charge of £33,000. Considering that the retailer then has to pay for staff, utilities, stock, and make some kind of profit to live on, it is no wonder shops are closing.

Brownowl564

Grantanow
If you think English councils have it tough , you should try living in Scotland, not allowed to increase council tax for over 10 years and grants reduced every year, SNP are much worse

Why can't they increase council tax? And grants? Where from? Don't understand your system

Ours hasn't been great for years. People keep saying we need John Lewis but then when a more upmarket shop moved in last year..."its too expensive, won't last long"

As someone who doesn't like shopping much my habits haven't really changed during lockdown.

Agree saltnshake. Parking is key. Specially in small towns where park n ride is not viable. Even first hour free would help as often we only spend maybe 30-45 minutes actually in town to collect prescription pick up some stuff from market and have a bit of a look at other shops, so paying is annoying when we don't use anything like the hour and the machines are registration sensitive so cannot pass on unused ticket time to another 'quickie' shopper either! Mean and profiteering. If the space has been booked for a period of time and paid for, it shouldn't matter what's parked there! Un justified

It's so sad to see.My local town has a lot less shops to make it worthwhile visiting,worse still now Debenhams has gone.We have a hotel being built on the old bus station,it's a company who wanted to invest,so it's not the local council who are paying.We have a huge, empty Beale's store,the latest idea is that the Council offices will move there,leaving their out of town offices empty. I know it's progress,and times have changed,but I wish we could go back to the days when we could enjoy an outing into town.

Ps for those who didn't realise, it is a line from Dad's Army
". We're doomed I tell you, doomed “
# Private Frazer
Looks like something got lost in translation

I live in a small town and every time a retail shop closes it is replaced by another cafe - there are so many now thst I am surprised they all manage to keep going

My local town built a Mall and made the High Street pedestrians only. Multi car park at the Mall. Worst thing that ever happened to the place and the decline set in. No more shopping for an hour or two any day of the week. Had to pay for parking and then trudge a fair distance through the Mall to access the High Street. Not a great experience and for some the draw of the stores in the Mall, now mostly closed meant shoppers didn't even visit all the local independent shops. Worst thing that ever happened was pedestrianisation. Of course, there is now an out of town retail park.

Our nearest town centre could be a real destination shop. It's historical, has various places of interest but the Council seems determined to deter shoppers/visitors. Parking costs are huge, the most convenient £6 starting and £10 for over 2 hours. The one way system is a pain, roadworks causing delays in another part for 2 years. The interesting little shops have mainly disappeared over the last 10 years. Disabled parking is hard to find. I have not been into town for 2 years and I haven't actually missed it. My internet shopping is now refined so I can't see me returning any time soon.

It is a shame that our town centres have become such unexciting places to visit. The general upkeep of town centres, such as litter, untidiness, dirty pavements, etc is very off-putting, but services have been cut right back. It almost needs the vision to revive town centres again.

Grantanow
If you think English councils have it tough , you should try living in Scotland, not allowed to increase council tax for over 10 years and grants reduced every year, SNP are much worse

Calistemon

Kali2

MerylStreep

Kali2

Doomed? Who on earth said that? Are you denying that town centres are on the decline, that Covid has made it worse, and that more and more people buy online?

You did in your OP.

No, I did not. Thanks.

Me, it was me!! ?

It seemed to be a thread comparing Britain unfavourably with the rest of Europe even though the OP says her own market town is wonderful, which is confusing.

Ps for those who didn't realise, it is a line from Dad's Army
"We're doomed I tell you, doomed"
#Private Frazer

Re European cities- it was never my intention to mention this, or compare. But I was asked a direct question, and I replied.

Yes, our small Market Town is still lovely, with lots on independent cafés, restaurants, a busy market and lots of independent shops. But did you read my comments? Even there, several shops have closed since Covid, and either leaving hugly gaps in the town centre, or replaced by same of the same. Other towns, as comments above clearly indicate, have been hit much worse.

Oh I remember Frazer, well.

My nearest town is over 25 miles away and parking gets more restricted every day and there is only 1 bus once an hour and it’s takes 90 minutes each way, i shop at my local farm shops, village butchers and direct from fishing boat, most other things I buy online, I buy from British companies wherever possible and online small producers or crafters through online markets or Etsy and will use again local hotels and tea rooms and restaurants, town centres are too full of same shops, chains etc and the parking gets more difficult so it does not make me want to go there at all. I live on the North east of Scotland coast but online I can buy from anywhere in the Uk

The reason Council charge heavily for parking is mainly that their grants from successive Tory governments have been pared to the bone - witness the poor level of social services. In our small market town the Town Council pays the County Council to keep the car parks free of charge so we don't deter town centre shoppers. We don't have an out of town shopping centre but it's a risk given Tory attitudes to deregulating planning.

Pre covid. When I was visiting Australia I wanted to but an iPad and went to the local shop. A young man showed the pad I wanted to buy. I hesitated but without asking he went on the web saw the best price and offered to sell for the same.
The same shop in France I wanted to buy an iPad cover. It wasn’t in stock, I asked when the next delivery would arrive and was surprised to be told it would be better to go on the web. I didn’t. I waited a week for the next delivery.
Many people want goods yesterday at the cheapest price.

Since Covid I have only been to local post office (half hour wait to get to front of queue) and to a specialist camera warehouse. There is not nearly enough Blue Badge parking in local towns and the city, and I will not be travelling on public transport because of Covid. Local councils have to get to grips with parking and business rates and not keep wailing that our town centres are dying. People will only shop locally if a) the shops are enough of an attraction and b) they can afford to pay higher prices than can be got online

How do you tag someone's name?

My view is…..like all life experience……things will change. Customers wishes and wants change and shopping does that too. Look to the past and that can be seen. Market day was ‘the big day’. I, personally, love independent shops. I’ve disliked going to another town to find the stores all the same.
Parking is another issue affecting town which is why the retail villages etc do well.
I find the changes fascinating. Marks and Spencer has changed too, by taking on Seasalt, Jaeger, Sosander etc…..

One of the biggest problems with shops closing in the town centres is that the Councils won't get the exorbitant council taxes they charge. We looked at a small shop in our local town and it was £30,000 for the Council Tax alone. How on earth do small businesses survive with overheads like this?

Kali2

MerylStreep

Kali2

Doomed? Who on earth said that? Are you denying that town centres are on the decline, that Covid has made it worse, and that more and more people buy online?

You did in your OP.

No, I did not. Thanks.

Me, it was me!! ?

It seemed to be a thread comparing Britain unfavourably with the rest of Europe even though the OP says her own market town is wonderful, which is confusing.

Ps for those who didn't realise, it is a line from Dad's Army
"We're doomed I tell you, doomed"
#Private Frazer

Kali2 I so am with you! Covid has altered the already struggling high street for ever. It’s so sad and true Lily depressing to see empty shops and boarded up shops. Where I live there’s nail shops, barber shops and £ shops - horrible! ?

I’d love to know where all you people live in the small towns with independent butchers, greengrocers etc., In our small city even the charity shops are closing. It’s depressing to walk through town except on market days.

MerylStreep

Kali2

Doomed? Who on earth said that? Are you denying that town centres are on the decline, that Covid has made it worse, and that more and more people buy online?

You did in your OP.

No, I did not. Thanks.

Gramarreto
I refer you to the 2nd paragraph of the OP.

It wasn't the OP Meryl
I agree with you Hetty. I may miss Lidl and Tesco if they go but they are always busy. We get used to everything in the end
Tomorrow we are holding an exhibition of the shops that used to be in our town. It's part of a Heritage project.