High Street Hopes…?
It seems pretty clear to me that socially we are destroying the trade on our high streets and as a country that survives on consumption it’s pretty worrying. However I was heartened this morning to learn that a Green Grocer (remember those?) was starting up in my local town located in an extended part of the high street with a small pull in area for passing customers to be able to park and shop. It got me thinking…will they survive and why did they choose that spot when half the main high street remains empty? I think it was the proximity of the parking. I think it’s true to say that many high streets are simply viewed as a route through a town these days which is actually causing the High Streets demise. Sure, rent and rates play a key part – but if the high street remains an inhospitable rat run we will never be able to revive them and a town centre should really be the hub of a community.
Some high streets fair better than others and they seem to have this magic quality of a small amount of on street parking within the high street or dedicated parking immediately adjacent to a pedestrianised high street.
Planners need to consider the long term future of the high street and create vibrant high street areas rather than worrying specifically about traffic flow. Making a high street one way and utilising an alternative route may upset some people – but those people wont have a nice town to live in if we don’t address the problem now.
I wish the green grocer the best of luck!
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