Demolision...

This eyesore was erected approx 30 years ago and was meant to house small retailers but it was rarely full, for the size and strange design I'm not sure why it was so large. It was made in very dark brick which never really survived the weather, no one could ever call it beautiful.

Where it was built it blocked the view of those working in the Health Centre and Library and in time even they ended up in a very dilapidated state. The building managed to split the town's shopping area in two.

For years it has been empty and we have been promised that it would be demolished. It has been a good home to many pigeons who took up residence.





Many of the town's shops problems have been caused by the fact that it was taken over by a London company who ran it as though it was based in the affluent South and many local retailers have been unhappy about the rents charged and sometimes they have found it cheaper to move to neighbouring towns or close altogether. We have some national retailers but not many(some of them have given up)but it's probably the seven or eight national names that keep the place ticking over...them and the banks, estate agents, betting shops, charity shops.

We did get two large retailers in the last 3-4 years but they are built next to the older part of the shopping area so they tend to take business also away from the older area where these shops are.

If they manage to join up the two parts so they are less isolated maybe it will become successful again.






Finally approx 10 -12 weeks ago action finally took place but it was delayed for some weeks because of some problem over gas mains.














At last as it goes...we are promised a new cut price supermarket on the site when cleared and that it will be more pleasing on the eye. I rarely use such terms but I do not believe that "anyone" will be sorry to see this go.

There is still quite a large piece of the building to be brought down.