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Shop closures turning area into 'ghost town'

Maisie Lillywhite & Annabelle Martin
BBC News, Gloucestershire
BBC A boarded up Wilko store on a gloomy city high street, which has several empty shops. A church can be seen in the distance as a seagull flies overhead.BBC
The former Wilko store was "bought by a local person" in January for an undisclosed amount

A former popular shopping destination has been described as a "ghost town" after several major chains have closed.

Northgate Street in Gloucester lost its Sainsbury's and Wilko stores, and now its Farmhouse Deli branch has closed, with shoe shop AG Meek also due to shut.

The manager of Antics Models and Hobbies, which remains open on the street, called for the council to "brighten things up".

Jeremy Hilton, Gloucester City Council's leader, said the authority was looking at turning a derelict building based on the street into flats to "bring life back" into the area.

Martin Gough, manager of Antics Models and Hobbies, said his shop's niche market keeps it "ticking over".

Mr Gough said the closure of Wilko and Sainsbury's had been "a big hit" for Northgate Street.

"There's absolutely nothing down here anymore," he said.

"People aren't going to come down that far if all they see is a block of flats.

"At least brighten things up a little bit down this end."

A deli stands on a gloomy street following a spell of rain. It has a green sign above the door and windows that reads "Farmhouse" and has a curtain down at the window, although the lights are on, as can be seen through the door.
Gloucestershire chain Farmhouse Deli has two locations left in the county following the closure of the Northgate Street store

Mr Hilton said Northgate Street's derelict Spread Eagle Court had been "identified" as an inner city housing site.

"We are going to be master-planning Northgate Street to see what we can best use that area of the city for in the future," he said.

Emily Gibbon from Gloucester BID said plans for more accommodation have been approved for the former Sainsbury's unit.

"We also know the Wilko unit has been bought by someone local who wants to do something special for the city," she said.

'Never come back'

Gloucester shopper Dave Smith described the closure of businesses as "a shame".

"It feels like a ghost town," he said.

"We're known for the rugby, we should be known for all the shops.

"I had friends from London up a couple of weeks ago; they said they would never come back here.

"They were so disappointed. All they saw was like coffee shops and charity shops. Where's all the big stuff?"

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