Durham 2nd worst rate in the UK for shop closures
By Sophie Garnett
Durham has the second highest rate of shop closures nationally so far this year, with 21 closures in the first six months of 2020.
The cities with higher total numbers of closures are Newcastle, York and Worcester which have seen 55, 43 and 26 store closures respectively. Newcastle and York are both much larger cities and therefore have a lower rate of closures.
Among others, Topshop, M&Co and Scorpio shoes, closed their doors to the public during lockdown leaving many prime location stores empty in the town centre.
This research, undertaken by the Local Data Company, fails to include temporarily-closed shops which may give an even bleaker picture. Researchers have also warned that with the end of the furlough scheme this month, more closures may be on their way.
Lucy Stainton, the head of retail and strategic partnerships at the Local Data Company, said: “The results from the first half of 2020 are a stark reminder of the challenges faced by retailers in the first six months of the year, which included a national lockdown.”
She also addressed the current lockdown measures the North East is facing: other restrictions such as the 10pm curfew would continue to have “a devastating impact” on the sector, with more closures likely after the key festive trading season ends.
Durham city shoppers were shocked by these new developments with one shopper commenting: ‘I hadn’t been into Durham since the lockdown earlier in the year but when I walked down the street today I could have cried.
”All the closed down shops is an absolute disaster, it’s not really worth coming here anymore”
”All the closed down shops is an absolute disaster, it’s not really worth coming here anymore”
– Durham shopper
Some shoppers however were not surprised by the closures, with many noting a gradual trend for some years. One said: ”I think we have to look at the big business rates the shops in Durham have to pay…landlords and the council could try to find a functional way to help them do that”.
Shops other than those included in the list of current closures have also announced their plans to shut their doors this year. Psyche, which only opened in 2018, is set to close later this year after its closing down sale.
Image: Billy Wilson via Flickr
