[lindsay ormerod]

I wasn't being pedantic, although now out of retail it's a topic close to my heart. I managed shops in Accrington for over 20 years and actually do know what I'm talking about. It pains me when a well known chain goes bust, it's happened to me twice and ended up in rubbish redundancy pay from the government as the company has no money.

It's a case of use it or lose it, as I have said before, Accy won't get a Next or a River Island, if New Look can't make a dollar here, there's no way.
We now have no book shop, no music shop ( unless you count Custard Cube), nowhere for ladies of a certain age to buy their clothes other than M&S. The Arndale has had empty units constantly for at least the last 15 years,( Cryers to name one) there's no incentive for businesses to go in there, they get a 6 month deal and then whoosh, you can't afford to be open.
We used to have a healthfood store on Union st, and a decent seconds outlet....
Same in the market, we used to have 3 cheese stalls, now we have 1.
The fruit and veg market is tiny, although if you want your phone unlocking or some fake luggage the world is your oyster.

I feel for the the likes of Superdrug and Holland & Barratt, you look around the mall and see what's going on, it's not promising. Glad I am out of it.