But
if all these 'identikit' businesses move out of the city centres then rent prices will have to come down to attract new businesses, this could then encourage local business people to open shops in the city and village centres, giving a lot of towns their own character back?
(Fuckarma was masturbating into your handbag, Tue 27 Jan 2009, 10:34, 1 reply)

i'd love to agree with that
but sadly most shoppers will head in their thoughtless squealing stopping in the middle of the road droves to malls. and the giant landlords of those malls can afford huge rent free and fit out cost contributions to encourage tenants, whereas locals can't.
( rachelswipe with a fork, Tue 27 Jan 2009, 10:52, closed)

on the other hand...
pay an arm and a leg to park in a town centre carpark, walk in the pissing rain from one side of town to the other to visit the 2 shops that sell what I want, only to find they are closed at midday on Wednesdays or 5.30 any other day.(Still the case in Chesterfield)

Or drive 15 minutes to Meadowhall, park for free, be nice and dry and choose from a dozen shops at 8.00 at night.

Sometimes town centre shops don't help themselves.
(turtles head is touching cloth poked a dwarf on the forehead at, Tue 27 Jan 2009, 19:24, closed)

Yeah but
Pound a bag man makes it all worthwhile!
(cherrynicola, Tue 27 Jan 2009, 20:48, closed)