Shops close in St Austell, Cornwall, sparking fears of decline. Locals cite fear and online shopping as reasons for concern.
New Look plans to shut its St Austell store next month. The company might close over 360 UK stores. They said closures happen sometimes because landlords request it, or the site becomes unprofitable.
Locals fear this spells trouble for their town, as only a few shops remain downtown. They have pubs plus TK Maxx and Superdrug, and a couple more are still there. Boots and Wilko closed recently, though.
Tourism helps the local economy. People visit nearby beaches and attractions such as the Eden Project and Lost Gardens. China Clay Country Park also draws them in.
One person said St Austell declines like other high streets and wants free parking for at least two hours. Another person said people feel afraid downtown. They feel St Austell’s decline is alarming.
Someone remembers St Austell being busy in the 70s/80s. High rents and beggars drive shoppers away now. They feel ashamed of the town now compared to before.
The New Look closure is seen as another bad sign for St Austell. Many empty shops and neglect exist. One person sees no reason for shops with few shoppers and thinks apartments should replace them.
Another person said the town changed for the worse, and parts of Cornwall have also declined. A local said people don’t support local shops but buy goods online then complain about closures.
They said progress means things change. One person noted that Truro and Plymouth get most visitors. These towns are a 30-minute or hour’s drive away.