Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken Moss
Not going to let that word drop, are you?
It's nothing to do with thinking that the socio-economic demographic rates highly, more that a shopping district with decent amenities will do better than one which has been allowed to run down. Take Preston as an example - Friargate had gone into quite a decline but a collaboration of public and private sector investment totally turned it around within a year.
All town centres need occasional regeneration schemes and Accrington is clearly no different. I'm not suggesting that shoppers are better off than they make out, but I go to Blackburn town centre far more because of the better range of shops. I suspect many other shoppers do exactly the same - people go where they can get what they want.
Accrington has a brilliant setup and I would never knock it but the more empty units you have, the more people will start looking at it as being a bit tatty.
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I noticed on Graham Jone's blog you were protesting at the closure of the HSBC bank in Rishton, and petitioning to keep it open.
While that is laudable, ultimately any business that has the facts and figures which prove that a branch is no longer profitable as a going concern, would also arrive at a similar decision.
All retail outlets, whether selling designer handbags or financial services, are out to make a profit. That's a simple economic fact. They aren't in existence to provide a public service. They are there to put money into the pockets of their owners and/or shareholders.
Someone could start a petition to bring Prada, Gucci and Harvey Nichols to Accy's Broadway.
It'll never happen, because this area doesn't have the demographic to support mid market chains such as Karen Millen, Next etc, nevermind the luxury market end of the retail industry.