Shop closures increase in UK
Altrincham, one of the more affluent areas of northwest England, is apparently suffering from the economic downturn with news that almost a third of shops in the town centre currently lay empty. While there are a number of factors which have led to the 9% increase in vacant shops in 2010, such as redevelopment of the town centre and the recent administration of a company running a shopping centre in the region, there is no doubt that the economic downturn is hitting home.
Against this backdrop of difficult trading and a difficult economic environment the local council have stepped forward with significant investment in the surrounding area and a reduction in parking charges. While Altrincham may be well-positioned for the future there are serious concerns about the short to medium-term outlook if as expected the UK economy takes a further downward tumble.
Unfortunately Altrincham is not alone as many town centres around the UK are struggling to come to terms with the latest economic downturn in the UK amid growing concerns for the future. This is where local authorities will need to be innovative and proactive to avoid potential ghost towns. It now seems almost inevitable that more shops will go under prior to, and just after, the festive period.
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